Drug-Dealing Husband-Wife Team Accused of Causing 'New Wave of Addiction'

RACINE, WI — A Racine couple has been accused of "creating a new wave of addition" in Racine after authorities found the husband-wife team was selling thousands of dollars worth of prescription medications from out of their home - which contained their four children.

On February 17, just before 7:30 a.m., agents from the Racine County Sheriff’s Office Metro Drug Unit, Caledonia Police Department K-9 officer and the Milwaukee DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, served a search warrant in the 800 block of Cleveland avenue in the city of Racine. The search warrant was a result of an ongoing investigation into the illegal sale of prescription medications.

The search of the residence recovered more than 1,500 tablets of Oxycodone Hydrochloride, Oxycodone, Oxymorphone and Hydrocodone tablets. These are all listed as narcotics under schedule II of the Wisconsin State Statutes. Other non-narcotic pills and $1,600 in cash were also seized as well. Each pill recovered can have an estimated street sale value of a dollar per milligram.

"These two people were creating a new wave of addiction in our community with their illegal activity," sheriff's officials said in a statement. "It has been well documented that narcotic/opiate addiction can lead abusers to heroin use and possible death."

There were children living at this residence and they were removed and placed into temporary protective custody.

The suspects, Jose A. Alvarado-Vargas and Ami A. Alvarado-Archambeau were arrested on numerous felony charges and are being held at the Racine County Jail. This husband and wife team were not employed and were receiving public assistance benefits.

According to Sheriff's officials, the husband-wife team were selling the prescription medications and making thousands of dollars illegally.

Jose Alvarado-Vargas and Ami Alvarado-Archambeau had their initial court appearance on Monday, February 20th.

> image via Racine County Jail