Stockton counterfeit pill manufacturing ring dismantled
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 agents learned of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) allegedly led by an individual identified as Jamaine Barnes. The Barnes DTO was purportedly involved in manufacturing and distributing large quantities of counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets containing fentanyl and other controlled substances, as well as supposed ecstasy/MDMA pills containing methamphetamine and other controlled substances, in the areas of Stockton, CA and elsewhere.
In July 2016, as a result of an e-mail search warrant, agents learned that Barnes purportedly purchased a pill press and pill dies from China. Additional e-mail search warrants served in October and November 2016, indicate that on five different occasions, Barnes allegedly ordered chemicals, including U-47700, a synthetic opioid, for shipment from China to a residence in Stockton, CA. Court documents detail multiple controlled purchases of counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets from sub-distributors within the DTO and counterfeit pharmaceuticals and/or purported MDMA tablets containing controlled substances seized on multiple occasions from various DTO members.
On May 16, 2019, agents executed 15 federal search warrants and six federal arrest warrants in the Stockton, CA area.
The following individuals were arrested today on a variety of federal drug charges: Jamaine Barnes, 37, of Stockton; Jamar Barnes, 37, of Stockton; Vincent Patterson, 26, of Stockton; Kavieo Wiley, 22, of Stockton; and Johnesha Thompson, 42, of Stockton. Chevele Richardson, 32, of Stockton, was also arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. All individuals had their initial appearance in Sacramento Federal Court today. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, California Highway Patrol, Stockton METRO, and TRIDENT Task Force with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, US Marshals Service, US Postal Service, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Stockton Police Department, Sacramento County HIDTA, and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
