Operation Unfriended: Marijuana, guns, dead alligator turn up during Mohave County investigation

KINGMAN, Ariz. - Authorities say a Kingman strip club was used as a front to illegally sell marijuana.

The Mohave County Sheriff's Office says three people were arrested Monday after search warrants were served. Sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter says the raid was the culmination of a four-month investigation, dubbed "Operation Unfriended," conducted by a taskforce.

Per MCSO, during the investigation, MAGNET (Mohave Area General Narcotics Enforcement Team) detectives learned of a large scale enterprise bypassing the state voter initiative for the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act.

According to investigators, 38-year-old John Monteiro and his girlfriend, 25-year-old Jordan Peterman, are accused of peddling marijuana inside the club. Both have medical marijuana patient cards and claimed they were running a medical marijuana delivery service.

"Both Monteiro and Peterman only have medical marijuana patient cards, with no rights to sell
marijuana. Both Monteiro and Peterman were selling the marijuana from the strip club that Monteiro
manages and Peterman works at along with the residence. Neither Monteiro nor Peterman claimed any income associated with their illegitimate business nor their income at the strip club. Information was discovered that Monteiro and Peterman were in possession of an alligator but it had died prior to the search warrant," stated Carter.

Monteiro has been booked on nearly 30 felony charges, including conspiracy to sell and transport marijuana, use of an electronic communication device and money laundering. Peterman faces nearly 50 counts of similar offenses.

A third suspect, 52-year-old Manuel Williams of Golden Valley, was also arrested on two drug-related charges.

Carter adds that during Operation Unfriended, over 25 pounds of marijuana, 15 marijuana plants, five firearms and three pieces of body armor were located.

Charges are pending against three others.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.