RIVERSIDE, California– A federal grand jury has indicted three members of a local drug-trafficking organization for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of carfentanyl, a powerful fentanyl analogue.
The indictment alleges that Alejandra Romero-Agredano, 49, and Jorge Martin 27, both of Fontana, and Jose Jesus Camacho-Martinez, 32, of Downey, belong to a drug-trafficking organization that distributed nearly 26,000 carfentanyl pills to undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents over a four-month period.
Romero-Agredano coordinated the distribution of carfentanyl, a powerful and highly addictive opioid. Carfentanyl is many times more potent than fentanyl and heroin, and is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals.
Earlier this year, undercover agents negotiated delivery of the pills with a Mexican-based co-conspirator. Romero-Agredano, working with Camacho-Martinez and Martin, then delivered three separate shipments each containing thousands of carfentanyl pills to undercover DEA agents in the Inland Empire.
The three defendants were arrested by the DEA on September 7. Romero-Agredano will be arraigned on October 3. Camacho-Martinez will be arraigned on October 11, and Martin will be arraigned on September 26. This is the first carfentanyl distribution case charged in federal court in the Central District of California.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Each defendant faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, if convicted.
The case was investigated by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Fontana Police Department and Ontario Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerry C. Yang of the Riverside Branch Office.