United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment on April 19, 2023, against Joseph Alan Childers, 37, of Oroville, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Acting Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris announced.

According to court documents, between November 2022 and February 2023, Childers conspired with others to acquire and distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in Butte and Yuba Counties. On Feb. 27, 2023, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of Childers in Oroville. A later search of the vehicle uncovered over 2 pounds of fentanyl, a half a pound of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and packing materials.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the Oroville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alstyn Bennett is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Childers faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.