Three generations of one family accused of drug dealing.

 

Navajo Nation police executed a federal arrest warrant and took a grandmother, daughter and granddaughter into custody Tuesday in the small, remote community of Dilkon, Ariz., according to a news release from the office of Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr.

Arrested were 81-year-old Effie Nezzie, reputed to be a traditional Navajo diagnostician known as a "hand trembler"; her daughter, Marjorie Conley, 63; and granddaughter, Frederica "Bubba" Conley, 39, at their home in Dilkon, which is on the Navajo reservation northeast of Winslow, Ariz., according to the release.

Frederica Conley's 1-year-old daughter was home at the time of the arrest, and her 5-year-old son was at a Navajo Head Start program, the release said.

The three were taken to Flagstaff for their initial appearance in federal court.

Navajo police said the family had been dealing methamphetamine for the past three years and that residents of the area had made repeated complaints about activities at the home, the release said.

A recent search of the family home turned up methamphetamine and marijuana, according to the release.

Shirley said in the release that he was shocked and saddened by the arrests, saying, "As Navajos, we look up to our elders for all of our teachings, and it's wrong for (Nezzie) to be doing this."

Patrick Sandoval, chief of staff in the Office of the President and Vice President, said the arrests will reflect badly on the Navajo Nation but at the same time shows that the Navajo Division of Public Safety is serious about investigating meth-related crimes and making arrests, the release said.

"It knocks the wind out of people to realize this is occurring," Sandoval said in the release. "We look to grandmas for advice, teachings, not to come to them for dealing drugs."

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