Two found guilty in federal court for drug trafficking

A Missouri man and woman were found guilty in federal court for their roles in a drug trafficking ring busted in Columbia.

Gustavo Ruvalcaba and Jennifer Foust were indicted last summer for selling multiple drugs in the area.

They were arrested when Ruvalcaba was found overdosed on heroin at the Super 8 Motel off Clark Lane.

Authorities found large amounts of black tar heroin, crack cocaine, powdered cocaine, and drug paraphernalia in the room along with a suitcase filled with $75,000 in cash.

In court Tuesday, the defense claimed the drugs were not ready to distribute, and no packaging was found at the scene. The defense said the two didn’t get rid of the cash because they didn’t know it was there.

The prosecution said drug scales were found in the motel room along with needles and steel bowls full of heroin. Investigators also found smoke detectors covered, and from the time the 911 call for the overdose was placed to the time the ambulance arrived only spanned 3 minutes, leaving the pair no time to get rid of the money or drugs.

Prosecutors said the two were without jobs, moving from motels every couple of days, and paying in cash.

Both Ruvalcaba and Foust were found guilty of participating in a conspiracy to distribute the drugs listed above, and four counts each of aiding and abetting each other to possess heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and meth with the intent to distribute.