Alleged Drug Kingpin, Girlfriend Arrested After Months-Long Investigation: Police

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- After a months-long investigation, police have arrested a man they say is suspected of being involved in significant sales and distribution of cocaine in Sonoma County.

The Santa Rosa Police Department’s narcotics unit says it first began the investigation into the sales and distribution of cocaine in Sonoma County in December 2016. Police say the investigation revealed that a subject, identified as John Conway Telesmanic, 24, of Santa Rosa was allegedly selling significant amounts of cocaine in various parts of Santa Rosa and was using his Santa Rosa home to keep his supply of drugs.

Over the course of several months, investigating detectives said they observed Telesmanic sell cocaine to various subjects.

Then, on April 27, detectives obtained a search warrant for Telesmanic and his residence. Detectives from the Santa Rosa Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration set up a surveillance of Telesmanic and his residence. After watching Telesmanic drive from his residence, detectives say they saw him park in the parking lot of the Chevy’s restaurant in Santa Rosa where they served the search warrant on Telesmanic.

Once Telesmanic was detained, detectives served the search warrant on his residence in the Olive Street area of Santa Rosa. During the search, detectives say they found three loaded handguns inside a dresser with about a half kilo of cocaine, Xanax, crack cocaine, MDMA, Psilocybin mushrooms, scales and packaging.

Under Telesmanic’s bed, detectives say they found two shortbarrelled AR-15 pistols that had a 30-round magazine and 60-round drum magazine attached. In the bedroom closet, detectives found an AK-47 assault rifle and two 30-round magazines. Additional ammunition was located for all the located weapons was found in the bedroom. About $17,214 in U.S. currency was also found in Telesmanic’s bedroom.

In a separate bedroom, two additional firearms were located behind the bedroom door, with one being a pump action 12-gauge shotgun that had the barrel shortened to about 13 ½ inches.

Detectives arrested Telesmanic for possession for sales of cocaine, sales of cocaine, possession of cocaine base, possession of narcotics while armed, possession of illegal firearms including a sawed-off shotgun and assault rifles and possession of high capacity magazines.

Detectives also arrested his live-in girlfriend, Julia Smith, for possession for sales of cocaine, possession of cocaine base, possession of narcotics while armed, possession of illegal firearms including a sawed-off shotgun and assault rifles and possession of high capacity magazines.

Both Telesmanic and Smith were transported and booked into the Sonoma County Jail.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information regarding it is asked to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department at (707) 543-3600.

Image via Santa Rosa police