Soap Lake man arrested on federal drug charges

SOAP LAKE — A Soap Lake man who was wanted on federal drug charges was arrested Thursday morning during a raid at his Soap Lake home.

Federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency and agents with the Department of Homeland Security arrested 35-year-old Ryan Cecchetti at a residence in the Soap Lake area. Cecchetti was previously arrested in 2017 and indicted on federal drug charges, but he failed to appear for court and a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

Cecchetti is facing new charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and unlawful firearm possession as a result of his arrest on Thursday. Grant County Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team detectives reportedly recovered almost 18 grams of meth, cash and guns at Cecchetti’s residence in the 100 block of Road 19 Northwest.

In addition to Cecchetti, Brittany Leann Brown, 29, and Sandy Elaine Laurel, 56, were taken into custody at the Road 19 residence. Brown was arrested on an outstanding Department of Corrections warrant and Laurel was arrested for unlawful firearm possession. The two women were booked into the Grant County Jail.

“With Ryan Cecchetti now in federal custody, he faces many years in a federal prison,” Sheriff Tom Jones said. “The teamwork between INET and our federal partners resulted in an indisputable case against Cecchetti, and I believe the Soap Lake and Lakeview communities can breathe a little easier knowing that he’ll be gone for a while.”

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