SLO County sheriff busts drug-trafficking ring after 3-month investigation
Eight people were charged in connection with a drug trafficking organization based out of northern San Luis Obispo County last month.
The suspects were arrested after the narcotics units served several search warrants in May relating to a three-month investigation of the sales and distribution of illegal narcotics within the county, according to a Tuesday news release from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
By the end of the investigation, investigators seized approximately three kilograms of cocaine, 14 pounds of methamphetamine, 11 firearms and $80,000 in U.S. currency, the agency said.
The drug trafficking organization was based out of North County and had ties to Southern California and Mexico, the Sheriff’s Office said.
According to court records, several of the defendants were charged in connection with search warrants served on April 9 and May 8.
The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against the eight individuals on Sept. 19, court records show.
Paso Robles residents Alexis Nusico Isidro, 29, Argenis Zepeda Grande, 29, Bianca Sudias Navarro, 30, Carlos Rios, 30, Jorge Castaneda, 30, and Jose Castaneda, 31; Templeton resident Anthony Traverso, 30; and San Miguel resident Zachary Hoyt, 32, were all charged with felony to commit a crime with a sentencing enhancement for there being more than 1 kilogram of cocaine, court documents show.
Jorge Castenada, Sudias Navarro and Nusico Isidro were also charged with transportation of a controlled substance for sale between non-contiguous counties with another enhancement for the amount being more than 1 kilogram of cocaine, court documents show.
Nusico Isidro was also charged with committing a felony while out on bail from another crime. Court records also show she was on bail for multiple drug crimes from June 2024 through August 2025, when she pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance for sale.
A sentencing enhancement for Jorge Castaneda previously being convicted of a crime that qualifies under California’s Three Strike Law was also added to his charges, court documents show.
Rios was also charged with two felony counts possession of a controlled substance for sale, one with an enhancement for more than one kilo of methamphetamine.
Court records show Jorge Casteneda was in jail custody and posted bail on May 8 before being formally charged at the same time as everyone else on Sept. 19. He pleaded not guilty to the alleged crimes on Sept. 23, court records show.
Nusico Isidro pleaded not guilty on Sept. 30, Hoyt pleaded not guilty on Oct. 2, Jose Castaneda, Sudias Navarro and Zepeda Grande pleaded not guilty on Oct. 8 and Traverso pleaded not guilty on Monday.
Rios is the only defendant who has not entered a plea to the alleged crimes, according to court documents. He also did not have any hearings scheduled as of Thursday afternoon.
This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM.
