Three men have been indicted on charges off attempting to sell 100 pounds of methamphetamine to a buyer staying at an upscale hotel in Huntington Beach.
Rami Haddad, 38, of Costa Mesa, Steven Barragan, 37, of Montebello, and Ernest Tyreone Walton Jr., 37, of Anaheim, were charged in a superseding indictment on Tuesday with conspiracy to distribute 100 pounds of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute 39.94 kilograms, or 88 pounds, of methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Haddad is also charged with using a firearm in a drug trafficking crime and knowingly distributing 4.5 kilograms, or 9.9 pounds, of methamphetamine.
On Jan. 16, Haddad allegedly agreed to sell 10 pounds of methamphetamine for about $15,000 to a buyer, according to federal prosecutors. Haddad is accused of showing the buyer a .38-caliber gun while meeting with the buyer at the defendant’s home, prosecutors said.
Haddad later carried 10 pounds of methamphetamine in a black duffel bag to the buyer at the Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort, prosecutors said.
Haddad allegedly told the buyer on Jan. 28 that he was getting 100 pounds of the drug through a supplier, prosecutors said.
Law enforcement saw Haddad and Walton emerge from Haddad’s home Feb. 4 carrying large black boxes and loading the boxes into Walton’s car, prosecutors said.
The two drove separately to the resort to deliver and sell the 100 pounds of methamphetamine, prosecutors alleged. Haddad was arrested in the lobby and Walton was taken into custody nearby.
Haddad allegedly told investigators that a few days earlier he picked up the shipment of the drugs with help from Barragan and discussed a plan with him to dilute the drugs, prosecutors said.