Federal agents say a northeast-side San Antonio home turned into an impromptu crime-scene cleanup site on Wednesday, after the resident allegedly tried to flush and wash away a large stash of methamphetamine while officers served a search warrant.
According to federal court papers, agents detained 46-year-old Thomas Pellecier, who also uses the name Thomas Merrero, without incident at the house on the 6800 block of Montgomery Drive. The home has been cordoned off while the federal investigation continues.
Agents say the bathroom looked like a busted cleanup job
As reported by KENS5, a federal complaint states that DEA agents serving the warrant found "numerous gallon-sized bags containing methamphetamine and residue near the bathroom." Investigators say the drugs did not stop there.
According to the complaint, agents also discovered meth inside the toilet, scattered on the bathroom floor and stuffed in a soaking-wet duffle bag left in the shower, after what they describe as an apparent attempt to flush and rinse away the evidence.
Alias linked through prior federal filings
Court records indicate the man named in the complaint has used the legal name Thomas Duane Merrero Pellecier in prior federal matters, including a 2016 habeas petition. Justia Dockets & Filings lists that earlier case, which helps corroborate the alias referenced in the new complaint.
What agents say they seized and what Pellecier allegedly admitted
Authorities seized approximately 97 grams of crystal meth, along with additional partially destroyed quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana and THC products, bulk cash and a Smith & Wesson handgun, according to the complaint.
The filing, as quoted in coverage by KENS5, states that Pellecier admitted the drugs and firearm were his, said he had received roughly 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine days earlier and claimed he was waiting on a larger shipment from Mexico.
Investigators further allege that Pellecier told agents he obtained the Smith & Wesson in exchange for meth and acknowledged he is a convicted felon who is not allowed to possess firearms. Federal authorities have charged him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and detained him without incident, according to the complaint.
Regional backdrop: South Texas meth seizures keep climbing
The arrest lines up with a broader pattern of heavy methamphetamine seizures across South Texas in recent months. In February, a task force led by Homeland Security seized more than 550 kilograms of methamphetamine in a San Antonio-area operation, according to a press release from the DEA. Officials said those efforts are aimed at disrupting cross-border supply chains that feed local street-level distribution.
Federal prosecution in Pellecier's case is pending in U.S. District Court. Arraignment dates and additional filings were not immediately available on public dockets. Case activity can be monitored through federal docket services such as Justia Dockets & Filings.
