CASA GRANDE — Casa Grande Police officers on Sunday arrested Joey Mata, 37, and Breannon Pinkus-Magana, 45, after a traffic stop investigation led to the alleged discovery of a significant number of drugs and weapons in their vehicle.
This incident occurred at approximately 8 a.m. in the 600 block of East Sixth Street in Casa Grande.
The traffic stop led to the discovery and seizure of approximately 7 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.9 grams of cocaine, three loaded handguns, nearly $5,000 in cash and a cashier’s check in Pinkus-Magana’s name for $119,000.
Mata is a documented Mexican Mafia gang member, a convicted felon, and has an extensive criminal history. He was out on bond in Pinal County for attempted murder and participating in a criminal street gang in separate cases. He also has charges pending in Maricopa County.
The attempted murder charge stems from a 2016 incident in Coolidge, when police accused him of shooting a Coolidge man, then fleeing in a stolen vehicle, which was later found burned in the desert.
Mata was booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center and charged with possession of dangerous drugs for sale, transportation of dangerous drugs for sale, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of misconduct Involving weapons and money laundering. These charges will be forwarded to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office for review.
Pinkus-Magana was booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center on charges of possession of dangerous drugs for sale, transportation of dangerous drugs for sale, possession of narcotic drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, misconduct involving weapons and money laundering, which also will be forwarded to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office for review.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.