Fundraiser for top Republicans arrested in drug bust

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PHOENIX (AP) -

A Phoenix woman who has worked for top Arizona Republicans and is now a political fundraiser is facing numerous felony drug charges after Maricopa County sheriff's deputies raided the home she shares with her live-in boyfriend and two children.

Sheriff's spokesman Detective Doug Matteson says 35-year-old Emily Pitha was arrested Tuesday afternoon after her boyfriend signed for a package containing more than 250 grams of Ecstasy.

Undercover detectives and U.S. Postal Inspectors raided the north-central Phoenix home after the delivery. Matteson says detectives also found methamphetamines, LSD, heroin, cocaine, what appeared to be a meth lab, numerous chemicals and a large amount of cash. Matteson says drugs were "all over the home" and easily accessible by the 5- and 10-year-old children living there.

Pitha declined to talk to deputies and was being booked into jail late Tuesday. Her boyfriend, 36-year-old Christopher Hustrulid, also was jailed.

Pitha is currently a consultant arranging fundraisers for Sen. John McCain. Her LinkedIn profile says she's previously worked for Sen. Jeff Flake and former Sen. Jon Kyl.

http://www.azfamily.com/story/31825566/fundraiser-for-top-republicans-arrested-in-drug-bust?autostart=true

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1. Meth lab busted after suspicious package sent to Phoenix house

PHOENIX (KPHO/KTVK) -

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said a package was sent to a Phoenix home on Tuesday and they later discovered a meth lab

According to MCSO, deputies received information from the Department of Homeland Security that a package was going to be mailed from the Netherlands to a house near 20th Street and Bethany Home Road.

They scanned the parcel and found it contained more than 250 grams of raw ecstasy material, according to Det. Doug Matteson with MCSO.

Undercover detectives then set up a drop where the package was signed for at the house just after 1 p.m.

Deputies then searched the home.

"They found out that the two suspects were inside the residence. They found also found LSD, heroin, methamphetamine," Matteson said. "They also found in the back of the residents an active meth lab."

They also discovered money in European currency and counterfeit U.S. cash.

The two suspects, Christopher Hustrulid and Emily Pitha, were arrested.

Two kids, ages 10 and five, live at the house as well but were at daycare at the time of the bust. Deputies said most of the materials that the couple used to make drugs could have been accessible to the children.

http://www.azfamily.com/story/31824202/meth-lab-busted-after-suspicious-package-sent-to-phoenix-house