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The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency announced Monday that four men from LA County have been arrested for allegedly conspiring to distribute “huge amounts” of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The seven-count federal charge comes after the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division raided at the Safehouse in Compton, seizing millions of dollars worth of drug revenue, contraband and weapons, according to a DEA release.
During the attack, investigators were:
Approximately 360,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills with 1,642,371 dollars of 108 kg (238 lbs) of cocaine (117 kg (257 lbs) of powdered fentanyl drug revenues of approximately $1,642,371
Each of the four defendants – all of whom are LA County resident – was charged with counts of one of the conspiracies they owned, distributing with intent to distribute controlled substances. All four were arrested on May 28th and pleaded not guilty to their arrest the following day.
They are identified as follows:
Long Beach (aka “Gordo”) Jesse Lopez Martinez (27), 32, Compton (aka “Ross”) Hector Mercede Para Jr., 25, Southgate (without known alias) Juan Francisco Felix Salazar, 28,
Some men face additional charges. Lopez Martinez is charged with two more possession charges with intent to distribute controlled substances, while Mendoza received additional possession counts with intent to distribute, as well as counts of being a felony in promoting drug trafficking crimes and possession of a firearm.
The 22-year-old man was arrested in connection with fatal civilian shooting, Baldwin Park police officer
Mendoza is not legally permitted to own a firearm due to his 2012 felony drug transport conviction in LA County, the DEA said in a media release.
The federal judge ordered both men to be jailed without being held, and Para and Felix were released on bonds.
According to the indictment filed May 22, the four men communicated via FaceTime and Snapchat, using coded language while carrying out criminal acts.
“Lopez-Martinez and Felix negotiated sales of controlled substances with drug customers. Mendoza stored and protected the controlled substance at a residence on Wilmington Avenue, Compton,” a DEA media release said. “Lopez-Martinez has arranged for delivery of controlled substances to drug customers [while he] Mendoza transported methamphetamine. ”
“Lopez-Martinez and Felix provided fentanyl for further distribution to others, including Parra,” the media release continues. “Parra received fentanyl for further distribution from Felix.”
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The trial date is set for the case on July 21st. Matthew Allen, a special agent in charge of the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, was steadfast in his stance on the arrests and charges filed.
“DEA men and women exhibit zero resistance to drug offenders who continue to poison and destroy our community,” Allen said with each DEA release. “The collaboration between DEA and law enforcement partners at all levels has never been more decisive than ever. We ensure that you find you, close your activities and face the full power of the law.”
If convicted of all charges, each defendant will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum life sentence.
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