WEST MICHIGAN – The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force has announced the arrest of a suspect tied to a crystal meth drug bust, considered one of the largest of its kind in West Michigan.
Federal authorities say Scott Webber, 29, called the U.S. Deputy Marshal in charge of his fugitive investigation on Monday claiming he was in Tijuana, Mexico and wanted to turn himself in. Webber was directed to walk across the U.S./Mexico border and surrender to authorities at the border checkpoint.
Investigators say he followed the instructions and was taken into custody by Border Patrol Officers at the U.S. border at 1:00 a.m. Tuesday.
Webber will stay in the custody of the U.S. Marshals in San Diego and will have an initial appearance in federal court in California. Federal authorities say Webber will then be extradited to Michigan by the U.S. Marshals to face his initial federal charges out of West Michigan.
Webber is one of six people tied to a crystal meth drug ring busted by the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team. Four others connected to the case were sentenced to 33 to 84 months in prison. The accused ring leader of the drug ring, Francis Block, was sentenced to life in prison.
Webber was arrested and indicted shortly after the bust, but made a run for it after posting bond, cutting off contact with his girlfriend and then 6-year-old child in the process.
He’d been on the run since May 2014 prior to Tuesday’s arrest.
The crystal meth confiscated during this investigation was highly toxic, 100% pure according to federal authorities. Prosecutors alleged the drug ring would utilize Monster energy drink cans, hollowing out the inside and unscrewing the bottom to move and distribute the drugs in various places, including Webber’s former place of employment.
Investigators say more than $350,000 worth of crystal meth was seized in the initial bust.
