by Mindy Aguon
Guam - Ten people have been charged in a federal indictment for continuing enterprise, conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of crystal methamphetamine, and multiple other charges. The indictment, unsealed today, charges Mateo Sardoma Jr., Rudy Sablan, Maria Edrosa, Christopher Mesa, Walter Duenas, Sylvia Mashburn Duenas, Eduardo Lake, Anthony Villanueva, Joseph Caballero, and Elizabeth Aguon.
According to court documents, Sardoma has been the supervisor of a continuing drug enterprise with at least five other people and obtaining substantial income and resources. The feds allege the defendants obtained the drug Ice from the Philippines, California and elsewhere and transported it to Guam where they distributed it and made profits off the sale.
The defendants allegedly trade the drugs for firearms, jewelry, and stolen items and laundered the money by making cash investments in the construction of and improvements of homes, by purchasing vehicles, household appliances, traveling off-island and bringing the cash on their person during the trips.
It's alleged that part of the conspiracy was that the defendants' used force, harassment and firearms to maintain control of their methamphetamine organization, even to the extent of kidnapping and torture. The indictment alleges that Sardoma and others purchased more than 300 grams of crystal meth and sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay for the drugs. Sablan also faces multiple charges of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Sardoma, Sablan and Mesa were arrested and charged in connection with the alleged kidnapping and torture of a handyman who was hired to do work at Sardoma's home. The man claimed he was beaten and threatened by the men who thought he had stolen one pound of crystal methamphetamine from Sardoma's home.
