Soap Lake man charged in meth bust

SOAP LAKE — An alleged Soap Lake meth dealer was charged after a raid at his home turned up drugs and money that were used in controlled drug buys.

Grant County prosecutors charged Vincent Cecchetti, 54, of Soap Lake, with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture/deliver.

In the weeks leading up to his arrest on April 16, members of Grant County’s Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET) reportedly made several drug buys from Cecchetti at his residence in the 40 block of state Route 28 in Soap Lake. INET members and officers with the Ephrata Police Department served a search warrant at Cecchetti’s home in the early morning hours of April 19. When he was initially contacted Cecchetti claimed there were no drugs, specifically meth, at his residence, according to court documents.

He admitted to using meth occasionally, but stated several times he does not sell drugs and there were no drugs in his residence. He further insisted there were no pipes, baggies or scale at his house and he was clean from drugs, because he had to submit a urine test later in the day. Several baggies were later found on a computer desk in Cecchetti’s bedroom, along with an improvised pipe containing a white residue. Cecchetti “acted surprised” when confronted about the pipe and claimed the baggies had been in the room for a number of years.

Authorities reportedly located 15.1 grams of meth in a sandwich bag in Cecchetti’s jeans in his bedroom. In addition, money used for the buy, which was verified by serial number, was found in Cecchetti’s wallet.

“I re-contacted Cecchetti and told him what I found in his jeans. Cecchetti said he knew we would find it. I asked him why he lied to us then and he didn’t have an answer for it other than he knew we would probably find it,” wrote an officer.

In addition, a prescription pill bottle containing a sandwich bag with a crystal substance, a small plastic bag containing a green vegetable matter, a glass smoking pipe with a white residue, and a working digital scale were found in a cowboy boot in Cecchetti’s bedroom.

Cecchetti finally came clean and admitted to selling drugs to fewer than 10 people. He described what he charged for drugs and claimed he had no income except food stamps and selling meth. He said he traded drugs for a TV and video game system in his living room and a cordless tool set in his garage.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.