The Storm Lake Police Department has released the details surrounding 10 arrests in connection to the alleged sale of illegal and prescription drugs in Storm Lake. As part of a 12 month investigation, titled “Operation Winter Blues”, officers completed and monitored a number of illegal activities including controlled purchases of drugs, seizures and countless hours of surveillance. The first arrest occurred on Nov. 28. Twenty-year-old Yunan Nyama of Storm Lake was arrested and charged with gathering where methamphetamine is used, a class D felony. On Dec. 18, 41-year-old Fernando Veliz of Storm Lake, was taken into custody and charged with three counts of delivery of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, class C felonies. Twenty-four-year-old Kang Char and 21-year-old Nyadil Deng, both of Alta, were arrested and charged with delivery of a controlled substance—marijuana, a class D felony. Twenty-year-old Jesus Diaz of Storm Lake was arrested Dec. 20 and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver methamphetamine on Dec. 20 Twenty-four-year-old Zachary Kraft of Storm Lake was arrested after a domestic assault—strangulation charge, an aggravated misdemeanor. Kraft was also wanted in connection to Operation Winter Blues and charged with possession of marijuana wax, a serious misdemeanor, and three counts of delivery of methamphetamine, a class C felony. Four arrests were made Dec. 21. Thirty-three-year-old Jonaz Maldonado, of Alta, was charged with delivery of methamphetamine, a class C felony. Thirty-three-year-old Lisa Snedeker of Storm Lake was arrested and charged with two counts of delivery of a class II controlled substance, class C felonies, and her mother, Judy Snedeker, also of Storm Lake, was charged with conspiracy to deliver schedule II controlled substances, a class C felony. The final arrest in the investigation thus far was made Dec. 21. Thirty-four-year-old Chan Khaoorn of Storm Lake was charged with delivery of methamphetamine, a class B felony. The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Storm Lake Police Department in several of these arrests. Operation Winter Blues is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated.
