Text Messages Detail Natrona County Meth, Heroin Conspiracy
An alleged accomplice of the Casper man charged with 12 drug-related felonies was recently arrested as part of the conspiracy.
Echo Marie Pollock appeared in Natrona County Circuit Court Monday on three counts of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. Prosecutors allege she conspired with Andrew Apodaca to sell methamphetamine, heroin and oxycodone.
Apodaca was named as the leader of the drug organization in court filings last week.
An affidavit of probable cause supporting Pollock's charges lists more than two pages of text messages between her and Apodaco. In the messages, the pair allegedly discussed payment for different drugs and selling them to others.
In an April 2 text message, Pollock told Apodaca that she was really sick and that a woman had given her "800 to toss" to Apodaca, but "I just don't want to do this when I get my kids ya know."
Later that evening, Pollock allegedly sent Apodaca an additional text stating, "OK. I have more of her money."
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in Apodaca's case, DCI began investigating a drug trafficking organization in April. They quickly learned Apodaca was the head of that organization.
That month, a confidential informant purchased two ounces of methamphetamine, one ounce of marijuana and 7.5 grams worth of Alprazolam pills, which is the generic version of Xanax, from Apodaca.
Last week, law enforcement searched Apodaca's home and allegedly found 2.4 ounces of methamphetamine, one ounce of black tar heroin and 1.3 ounces of marijuana.
Agents also searched a storage unit that belonged to Apodaca. They found four ounces of marijuana in eight different containers.
Apodaca is charged with two counts of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substance.
He also faces two counts of possession of a controlled substance in a felony amount for the black tar heroin and methamphetamine.
Apodaca remains jailed at the Natrona County Detention Center on a cash-only bond in the amount of $100,000 as of Friday morning.
In 2009, Apodaca pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to to distribute methamphetamine charge in federal court. He was released from prison in 2011, according to court records.