8 plead guilty in meth trafficking ring

TULSA - U.S. Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward announced Thursday that eight defendants in a major methamphetamine trafficking ring have pleaded guilty and await sentencing in Federal Court in Tulsa.

Prosecutors say the criminal organization was responsible for the importation of large amounts of methamphetamine in pound quantities from sources in Phoenix, Arizona and locations in Texas, into the Tulsa area between December 2009 and February 2010. The defendants often used commercial airlines to fly to the source of the methamphetamine and then transported the drugs back to the Tulsa area using private vehicles and passengers on commercial bus lines. In one instance the drugs were hidden inside a pink stuffed animal.

Officials broke up the ring in February when law enforcement officers served simultaneous search warrants on a residence in Broken Arrow and Phoenix, Arizona. Officers found records of multiple drug transactions at the Broken Arrow residence.

32-year-old Max Ray Tanner of Tulsa; 34-year-old Jason Edgar Kort of Broken Arrow; 32-year-old Beverly McPhedran of Phoenix, AZ; 39-year-old Jean Ann Brenek of Wall, TX; 31-year-old Mark Anthony Millwood of Phoenix; 38-year-old Serena Rae Archer Springfield, MO; 58-year-old Cheryl Hopple of Phoenix, AZ; and 56-year-old Higinio Sahuaqui of Phoenix, AZ were all charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute, and Unlawful Use of Communication Facility. Tanner was also charged with Felon in Possession of Firearm.