Sheldon J. Sperling, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced Thursday that Ricardo Garza, 60, of Thackerville, and Brandy Lee Glidewell, 46, of Ratliff City, were charged for the distribution of methamphetamine.
Sperling said, “Charges arose from an investigation by special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Department.”
Sperling said, “The complaint charges that from on or about March 3, 2009, and continuing to on or about March 11, 2009, Garza and Glidewell, while working together, distributed six ounces of methamphetamine to a cooperating individual near Sardis Lake.
“The complaint asserts that the total amount of meth distributed, and attributable to the charged offense, is upwards of 100 pounds of crank,” Sperling said. “The complaint also alleges an undercover meth purchase from Garza last week took place near Sardis Lake in Pushmataha County. On Wednesday, undercover officers participated in a $15,000 buy and bust operation in the Eufaula area. Glidewell was arrested shortly after the undercover transaction was concluded.”
“Federal law permits a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years nor more than life imprisonment, up to $4,000,000 in fines, and not less than five years of supervised release,” Sperling said.
Sperling said Garza and Glidewell are in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service, and no bond has been set.
“Federal defendants are the subject of pretrial detention if likely to flee or pose a danger to the community,” Sperling said.
Sperling added he was unable to speak about the county sheriff’s involvement in the case or “go beyond the public record at this stage to comment on evidence.”
Sperling explained the two suspects have been charged with a federal crime or crimes by the filing of a complaint. A complaint is a charging document that charges a federal defendant until the evidence can be presented to a grand jury. A grand jury indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
