Mexican Mafia selling methamphetamine in Sandbridge?

Mexican Mafia selling methamphetamine in Sandbridge?A couple who moved here from Florida set up a meth operation at different condominiums and homes in the seaside neighborhood.A quick investigation with the help of an informant led to the arrests of the couple in late April after they received a 2-1/2-pound package of crystal meth in the mail.Jose Luis Gamez Jr., 29, and his girlfriend, Kristina Marie Crane, 19, each pleaded guilty this week in U.S. District Court to drug distribution charges. They remain in jail pending sentencing.The FBI is investigating reports from the informant that Gamez, who goes by George, "may be associated with the Mexican Mafia," according to an FBI affidavit filed in federal court.The Mexican Mafia is an extremely violent, largely prison-based gang located predominantly in California and Texas. Two years ago, Texas executed a Mexican Mafia "general" linked to 15 murders.The FBI describes the gang as a "militant revolutionary group" that has alliances with the Aryan Brotherhood, a white supremacy movement. In Los Angeles, the two groups have conspired over the past 20 years to kill rival black drug dealers.Gamez and Crane lived for a time in a rented house on Salmon Lane, a few blocks from the store.The couple also rented different condo units on Sandpiper Road from March 2 until their arrest.Chandler Dennis, a former civic league president just back from a Bermuda cruise, said the most serious crime she ever hears about in Sandbridge is someone rifling through cars. She thought that's what a reporter came to talk to her about Thursday.On the arrests of Gamez and Crane, she said she can breathe a sigh of relief after the fact.Gamez admitted to authorities that he is a longtime meth user and dealer and that he has been affiliated with gangs, according to the court records, which do not provide further detail of his gang activity. Meth, a highly addictive stimulant, produces an intense rush when smoked.Gamez told the agents he has been dealing meth in the area since November and has sent more than $200,000 in drug proceeds to people in Florida, California and Mexico at the direction of his supplier, identified in court papers only as "Vale."
After their arrest, Gamez and Crane agreed to cooperate with the FBI and the Virginia State Police.On April 24, state charges were dropped and they were released from jail.For the next week, the FBI had Gamez make several phone calls to Vale in Florida, setting up more drug transactions, many of which were recorded.Their cover was blown when Vale learned that agents showed up at his rental office, in Davenport, Fla., asking about Crane, the court records say.Vale told Gamez that he moved from that rented home to an undisclosed location.On May 12, Gamez and Crane were arrested on the federal charges.FBI spokesman Phil Mann declined to comment about the ongoing investigation, but sources involved said any possible gang connection would be in Florida, where Gamez is from, and not Sandbridge.Gamez has a string of drug arrests dating back more than 10 years.He has a meth distribution case pending in the Florida appeals court.Kelley Collier, his attorney in that case, said he has never heard of any gang connection with Gamez in that case or other criminal actions against Gamez that he has handled.