Feds want to seize properties in drug hunt

The federal government wants to seize several Santa Fe area properties from people recently indicted in a large marijuana-smuggling operation, according to court documents.

The properties include two houses in Eldorado, two condominiums on Berger Street in the South Capitol neighborhood and land on Quail Run near Lone Butte, documents in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque say.

The properties belong to Dana Jarvis, 55, a former Santa Fe resident and owner of a now-defunct Albuquerque blues club, and some of the 20 other people also indicted in August in connection with the alleged multimillion-dollar smuggling operation.

That operation allegedly began in September 2002 and was organized and supervised by Jarvis, who obtained bulk quantities of marijuana from sources in Tucson, Ariz., documents say. From there, the marijuana was packaged by co-defendants at "stash house locations" under Jarvis' control and transported to New Mexico, where it was stored in other stash houses owned by Jarvis and other co-defendants, according to the documents.

From New Mexico, the marijuana was distributed throughout the United States, including Denver; Columbus, Ohio; Bloomington, Ind.; and the East Coast, according to court documents. The marijuana proceeds were then taken to New Mexico by car or by plane, the documents state.

Jarvis has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms -- or 2,200 pounds -- or more of marijuana, operating a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to launder money and money laundering. He is being held at an Albuquerque jail, said his lawyer, Judith Rosenstein. Other Santa Fe area residents also indicted are Jarvis' 19-year-old daughter, Ayla Jarvis, as well as Barbara Hanna, Pat Berssenbrugge and Cathy Fitzgerald, said James Braun, assistant U.S. attorney.

Hanna owns the two condominiums, at 138 W. Berger St. and 1421/2 W. Berger St., he said, though it was unclear exactly who owns the other Santa Fe-area properties. Those properties are at 5 Lauro Road and 3 Dovela Place in Eldorado, according to court documents.

The property at 28 Quail Run, where Fitzgerald lives, was used as a stash house, Braun said. Ayla Jarvis was arrested in Columbus, Ohio, and only recently brought back to New Mexico, Braun said. She was ordered held in jail at a Wednesday detention hearing before a U.S. Magistrate Court judge, he said.

Dana Jarvis lived in Santa Fe for many years, and his 15-year-old son and Ayla Jarvis continue to live here, Rosenstein said. In the 1990s, Dana Jarvis was a certified legal-video specialist and ran a business that made educational videos, according to a motion filed by Rosenstein earlier this month. Dana Jarvis also owned Club Rhythm and Blues in Albuquerque, which now operates as Harlow's on the Hill.

Cliff McIntyre, Fitzgerald's attorney, said his client owns no property in Santa Fe and lives in a trailer on the Quail Run property, which is owned by Dana Jarvis.

An attorney for Berssenbrugge could not be reached, and Hanna's attorney did not return a phone message.

Fitzgerald, Berssenbrugge and Hanna have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

Contact Jason Auslander at 995-3877 or jauslander@sfnewmexican.com.