April 19, 2022 - FRESNO, Calif. — Jose Jesus Torres Garcia, 30, of Fresno, was sentenced on Monday by U.S.  District Judge Dale A. Drozd to six years in prison for illegally possessing fentanyl pills and a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in May 2021, law enforcement obtained evidence that Torres Garcia was using his social media account to advertise the sale of “M30” pills, which are counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. Based on that information, federal officers executed a search warrant at Torres Garcia’s residence and found a loaded, short-barrel rifle and several hundred fentanyl pills packaged for sale. Torres Garcia was charged with possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute it and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He pleaded guilty to both charges on Sept. 27, 2021.

The case was the result of an investigation by FORT, a multi-agency team composed of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Homeland Security Investigations, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.
Source: DOJ Release    Photo credit: DEA file photo