The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced Monday that four men from L.A. County were arrested for allegedly conspiring to distribute “vast quantities” of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The seven-count federal indictment comes after the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division conducted a raid at a safehouse in Compton and seized millions of dollars worth of drug proceeds, contraband and weapons, according to a DEA release.
Investigators located the following during the raid:
- 785 kg (1,730 pounds) of methamphetamine
- 108 kg (238 pounds) of cocaine
- 117 kg (257 pounds) of powder fentanyl
- Approximately 360,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills
- Approximately $1,642,371 in drug proceeds
- 13 firearms
- 7 vehicles
Each of the four defendants — all of whom are residents of L.A. County — was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. All four were arrested on May 28 and pleaded not guilty at their arraignment the next day.
They have been identified as:
- Jesse Lopez-Martinez, 27, of Long Beach (aka “Gordo”)
- Carlos Mendoza Jr., 32, of Compton (aka “Los”)
- Hector Merced Parra Jr., 25, of South Gate (no known alias)
- Juan Francisco Felix Salazar, 28, of Whittier (aka “Panchito”)
Some of the men are facing additional charges; Lopez-Martinez is charged with another two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances while Mendoza also received an additional count of possession with intent to distribute, as well as a count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and a count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Mendoza is not permitted to legally possess a firearm due to his 2012 felony drug transportation conviction in L.A. County, the DEA said in their media release.
A federal magistrate judge ordered both men to be jailed without bond, while Parra and Felix were released on bond.
The four men, according to the indictment filed on May 22, used coded language while communicating via FaceTime and Snapchat to conduct their criminal activities, some of which happened at a local restaurant, federal officials said.
“Lopez-Martinez and Felix negotiated the sale of controlled substances with drug customers. Mendoza stored and safeguarded controlled substances at a residence on Wilmington Avenue in Compton,” the DEA’s media release states. “Lopez-Martinez arranged the delivery of controlled substances to drug customers [while he] and Mendoza transported methamphetamine.”
“Lopez-Martinez and Felix supplied fentanyl to others, including Parra, for further distribution,” the media release continues. “Parra received fentanyl on consignment from Felix for further distribution.”
A trial date of July 21 has been set for the case. Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division Matthew Allen was firm in his stance on the arrests and charges filed.
“The men and women of DEA will show zero tolerance for drug criminals, who continue to poison and devastate our communities,” Allen said per the DEA release. “Collaboration between DEA and law enforcement partners at all levels has never been more resolute. We’re going to find you, shut down your activities and ensure you face the full force of the law.”
If convicted of all charges, each defendant would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
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