Ignoring warnings leads to jail for bootlegger suspects

Six people who ignored community warnings to stop bootlegging were arrested early Dec. 9 in the latest anti-drug and alcohol sweep on the Navajo Nation.

Eight people were arrested as part of Operation Southern Chill - seven on federal warrants and one on tribal charges. Arrested on federal charges in Lukachukai, Ariz., were Fannie Mae Sorrell, Irene Notah and Victor Nez.

Nez's mother, Delores Nez, who according to police admitted to transporting 16 cases of malt liquor in 40-ounce bottles, was charged under Navajo Nation law for possession with intent to distribute.

Also arrested were Kee Tsosie and Chester Baldwin of Nazlini, Ariz., Douglas Begay of Round Rock and Glen Benally of Chinle.

"Apache County Sheriff Joe Dedman responded to resolutions passed by the (Lukachukai and Nazlini) chapters that pointed out these individuals as bootleggers," said Apache County Sheriff's Cmdr. Roscoe Herrera.

"About a year to a year and a half ago we visited these individuals and made it known to them that the community pointed them out as bootleggers," he said. "That was a warning. Now, they were served with a federal warrant for their arrest."

Navajo Nation Police Sgt. Wallace Billie noted that when Navajo police received a tip about reputed bootleggers, he also paid those individuals a visit and issued a warning, giving them a chance to stop illegal activity. Unfortunately, the warning wasn't enough, he said.

As her children prepared for school, Fannie Mae Sorrell was served with a federal warrant for bootlegging at her residence about a quarter mile northwest of Navajo Route 13.

"That gets to me," said Billie. "Her daughter was crying, watching her mother get arrested."

As Sorrell was being cuffed and placed into the Apache County transport vehicle, an unidentified undercover officer noted that a pickup parked in the Sorrell driveway matched an informant's description of a vehicle seen leaving Sagebrush Liquors with a large load of liquor.

"We got a tip from an eyewitness that this vehicle was seen leaving with seven cases," the officer said. "When we called the establishment, they wouldn't tell us if they sold it to them or not."

The vehicle is a modified extended cab low-rider pickup truck with unique designs and markings on the tailgate. Asked to whom it belonged, Sorrell gave the Navajo Times reporter a withering look and said nothing.

At Victor Nez's residence, children also were getting ready for school when he was arrested. As officers interviewed family members, Delores Nez stated that she had delivered cases of malt liquor and had sold it by the bottle for $8 each - a 400 percent markup from their retail price at Sagebrush.

She told investigators that she had 16 cases in the hogan on the site, and one of the children showed the officers the exact location. The liquor was confiscated and transferred into a pickup belonging to the Apache County Sheriff's Department, where they were taken to be logged into evidence.

At $8 per bottle, the 16 cases have a street value of $1,536.

The suspects were booked in Chinle before being transported to Flagstaff where an arraignment was held later the same day.

Billie noted that years ago local law enforcement agencies in border towns cooperated in notifying Navajo Nation authorities when suspected bootleggers were active.

"That program helped out a lot," Billie said. "Those agencies would notify Navajo PD of a vehicle that is making its way back onto reservation and all we would do is get probable cause on them and search. That program used to help a great deal.

"Getting that back would help again," he added.

Billie applauded the community involvement that led to Operation Southern Chill and urged the public to continue supporting police efforts to rid Navajo communities of drugs and alcohol.

He said he sympathizes with residents' frustration that it takes so long for a tip to bear fruit, but said that building an airtight case against lawbreakers takes time.

The Navajo Nation Drug & Gang Enforcement, Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, Apache County Sheriff's Department, BIA and FBI all took part in Operation Southern Chill.

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