Three people have been indicted for conspiring to distribute 150,000 fentanyl pills in Madera County.
The big picture: Jesus Castaneda, of San Bernardino, Carlos Fierro, of Caruthers, and Alejandro Mares, of Mexico, were charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in federal court.
- The Department of Justice alleges that the defendants conspired with others to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl.
- They arranged to sell 150,000 fentanyl pills in a strip mall parking lot in Madera on Feb. 21.
- Before they completed the deal, they went into a nearby Panda Express, where officers converged on them and arrested them. Officers seized 150,000 fentanyl pills and two firearms.
What we’re watching: All three defendants face a 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine for the drug charge.
- Fierro faces an additional five years in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
