Indio Man Arrested with Nearly 20 Pounds of Methamphetamine, Illegal Weapons

A 45-year-old Indio man facing trial for a 2016 homicide was arrested Wednesday after police found a substantial cache of drugs and illegal weapons at his Pisa Court home.

Marcos Cruz Gaeta Jr. first drew attention during a traffic stop near Gore Street and Avenue 42 Wednesday afternoon. That’s when Indio Police Department officers saw him toss about a pound of methamphetamine from his vehicle. That led investigators to obtain a search warrant for his residence on Pisa Court.

By 6 p.m. that night, detectives and K-9 units from multiple agencies executed the warrant. Inside, authorities say they found nearly 20 pounds of methamphetamine, a quarter-pound of heroin, eight pounds of marijuana, and Xanax pills. Police also say they recovered two assault rifles, three handguns, large quantities of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and several 3D-printed devices designed to convert semi-automatic Glock pistols into fully automatic weapons.

Gaeta has multiple felony convictions and is legally barred from possessing firearms. He was out on bail awaiting trial for a 2016 homicide case in which he's accused of killing an Indio woman.

He was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of assault weapons, and drug possession for sale. A woman found at the residence was detained and later released. Gaeta is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, November 21, to be formally charged on the accusations. 

Anyone with information can contact Indio Police at (760) 391-4057 or Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP.