(KIWA Staff Photo)Sioux Center, Iowa — A Worthington couple and a man from Sioux Center have been arrested on serious felony drug charges after they allegedly sold drugs to undercover law enforcement officers.
A criminal complaint filed by the Sioux Center Police Department in district court accuses 28-year-old Marvin Berduo of Worthington, 20-year-old Yener Lopez Lopez of Sioux Center, and 28-year-old Everilda Ramos Ramos of Worthington of completing the sale of methamphetamine. They were arrested on Wednesday.
In his statement, the officer says the meth was purchased by law enforcement personnel as members of the Northwest Iowa Drug Task Force, behind a home on 2nd Avenue Southwest in Sioux Center. The location is near a public park, known as Tower Fields. The report accuses Berduo of delivering the meth in his car in the presence of his girlfriend and two juvenile children, and while in possession of a handgun. He was arrested by other officers a short time later.
Berduo was charged with several counts, including two counts of drug trafficking, a class B felony; two counts of neglect of a dependent person, a class C felony; dominion or control of a firearm by a felon, and failure to affix a drug tax stamp, both class D felonies. Class A felonies carry a penalty of 25 years in prison, with 10 years for a class C and five for a class D count.
He also faces misdemeanor charges of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, keeping premises or vehicle for controlled substances, person ineligible to carry dangerous weapons, and operating under the influence.
Lopez Lopez faces a class B felony count called simply “controlled substance violation,” and misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance (two counts) and prohibited acts.
Ramos Ramos also faces the class B felony count called simply “controlled substance violation,” as well as misdemeanor charges of person ineligible to carry dangerous weapons, and possession of a controlled substance.
So far, no court dates have yet been set in the case.
At last report, they remained in the Sioux County Jail in Orange City.
