A Susanville man faces drug trafficking and weapons charges in Nevada following an April 8 sting operation by federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency. Jeffrey Meusch faces four federal charges according to documents filed in the United States District Court of Nevada.

According to the court documents, Meusch is charged with possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm, escape and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

According to an affidavit from the arresting officer, Meusch was arrested in the parking lot of Cabela’s on Garson Road in Reno, Nev. with more than a pound of marijuana contained in four separate bags, packaged hashish, paraphernalia, a Glock model 27 .40 caliber handgun and a cell phone whose number matched that used to arrange the meeting with the DEA informant, whom the officer referred to as a “cooperating source.”

In March the DEA’s cooperating source placed an advertisement on Craigslist seeking a housekeeper who “‘must be 420 friendly,’ indicating the housekeeper must not object to marijuana use.”

The cooperating source received an e-mail that read “looking for buds,” and responded in substance, “depends on how good your buds are.”

Additional e-mails were exchanged regarding various amounts of marijuana and prices. Finally, the cooperating source received a cell phone number that, according to Verizon in Ridgley, Tenn., belongs to Meusch.

In late March, Meusch and the cooperating source met in Reno at the Little Waldorf Saloon on Virginia Street.

On April 8, “at the direction and monitored by your affiant,” the cooperating source placed a number of phone calls to Meusch’s phone number and arranged the purchase of two pounds of marijuana for $7,600.

When Meusch drove to a specified location in the parking lot at Cabala’s, agents and officers detained him. A Reno K-9 officer arrived on the scene and performed a “canine sniff” on the vehicle. A Reno Justice Court judge then issued a search warrant.

According to the affidavit, the officers believe Meusch, seated in a police vehicle, apparently heard them discussing the search warrant.

“After that conversation,” the officer wrote, “Meusch slipped out of his handcuffs, exited the vehicle and ran away northbound, escaping lawful custody. Meusch was ultimately caught by agents and officers.”

According to the affidavit, criminal records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation reflect Meusch suffered felony kidnapping and aggravated assault convictions in Prescott Ariz. in 1987.

In his affidavit, the officer wrote the document “does not contain all the facts of which I am aware in this case.”

Meusch’s next appearance in federal court is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30.