BAKERSFIELD, Calif . – Leonard Velazquez-Martinez, 50, of Minnesota, and Joseph Andrade, 38, of Bakersfield, were arrested Monday for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. At the time of his arrest, Andrade was employed as a correctional officer at Wasco...

SACRAMENTO, Calif . – A grand jury returned a superseding indictment on Thursday that added money laundering charges to six defendants first charged in 2017 in a scheme to use money from China to buy houses to grow marijuana, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Charged with money laundering are...

FRESNO, Calif . – On June 17, 2019, Carlos Montano, aka “Loco,” 29, of Fresno, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill to 21 years and 10 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm and interstate transportation for prostitution...

SACRAMENTO, Calif . – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Arturo Zavaleta, 39, of Mexico, charging him with trafficking in heroin, methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime, United States Attorney McGregor Scott announced. According to court documents, on June 3, 2019...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sixteen members and associates of a prison-based gang have been charged after a long-running investigation into drug trafficking and murders inside and outside of California’s prisons. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott, and Special Agent in...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Eddy Steven Sandoval Lopez, 23, a Nicaraguan national residing in Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, Sandoval Lopez distributed cocaine and marijuana on a darknet site, Dream Market, using the vendor accounts “CokeWave,” “SafeDealsDirect,” and “HerbanFarmer.” The Dream Market...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Thursday against Ivan Lopez, 34, of Mexico, and Erick Olivas Lopez, 39, of Mexico, charging them with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute at least 400 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. According to court documents, on April...

FRESNO, Calif. – A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Alejandro Cabrera-Gallegos, 37, of Porterville, charging him with distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and DEA Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen announced. According to court documents, on...

SAN FRANCISCO – Alejandro Ramirez-Suarez was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and related charges announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and DEA Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen. The sentence was handed down...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents dismantled an alleged Stockton-based counterfeit pill manufacturing ring and arrested six individuals as a result of the investigation, announced DEA Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen. According to court documents, the DEA Sacramento District Office began this investigation in April 2016, when...