Sandbridge meth dealer tied to mafia?

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Federal agents are investigating drug dealers with gang connections in the quiet seaside neighborhood of Sandbridge.

Jose Luis Gamez, Jr., and his girlfriend Kristina Marie Crane, according to a federal affidavit obtained by WAVY.com, moved from Florida to Sandbridge, started selling crystal methamphetamines from different vacation rental properties.

Agents also believe Gamez was likely involved with the violent "Mexican Mafia," according to the affidavit.

Amber Sloan, whose family owns the Sandbridge Market, said the arrests of the man and woman are the talk of the neighborhood.

"Everyone is completely shocked," said Sloan.

Gamez and Crane admitted they were heavy meth users, according to the court documents. They both pleaded guilty to drug dealing charges earlier this week in federal court in Norfolk. Records show at one point U.S. Postal agents intercepted a package headed for Crane in Sandbridge and in it they found nearly 2.5lbs of crystal meth packed in plastic bags, inside plastic containers with scented dryer sheets to mask the odor of the drugs.

Agents believe the couple's source of meth was a man in Florida known only as "Vale" and Gamez told agents he sent drug proceeds back to people in Mexico.

But Gamez is saying little else about his alleged connection with the Mexican Mafia which is known for its involvement in extortion, drugs and murder.

Gamez and Crane are both in jail right now awaiting sentencing.