7 CHARGED IN METH RING

Seven Northern Kentucky men were indicted by a federal grand jury May 12 for conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in Grant County.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Kentucky State Police jointly announced the charges May 16.

Four of the seven men indicted also lived in Grant County.

A federal grand jury sitting in Covington, returned the indictment against Epifanio Floriano-Luis, 49, of Dry Ridge.; Cesar Tavera-Segura, 33, of Williamstown.; Leland Frazier, 31, of Dry Ridge.; Juan Carlos Chavez-Calderon, 37, of Dry Ridge; Jose Valentin Rivas-Perez, 33, of Covington; Olvan Antonio Andrade-Mejia, 40, of Covington and Dassaez Almendra-Floriano, 20, of Elsmere.

The charge carries a minimum of 10 years in prison upon a conviction.

The investigation preceding the indictment lasted a year and a half.

The indictment, which was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony J. Bracke, alleges that the seven men worked together to distribute the methamphetamine from Nov. 1, 2009 through April 13, 2011.

Five of the men indicted are still in custody while Cesar Tavera-Segura and Leland Frazier were released on bond.

The defendants are scheduled to appear in the United States District Court in Covington on May 19 for their arraignment.

The indictment of a person by a grand jury is an accusation only, and that person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

DID YOU KNOW?

A federal indictment says four of seven men indicted for alleged conspiracy to distribute meth are Grant County residents.