September 6, 2023 – FRESNO, Calif. — Bobby Hood, 65, of Friant, was sentenced on Tuesday to 10 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in the summer of 2020 law enforcement learned that Mr. Hood was trafficking fentanyl and heroin. Just a few months later, on Christmas Day, a small amount of fentanyl powder that Mr. Hood distributed led to an overdose death.  In that overdose investigation, investigators reviewed phone evidence that corroborated Mr. Hood’s sale of the lethal dose and other instances of his fentanyl dealing.  All that information led to federal officers searching for Hood, his car, and his residence.  Those searches turned up a firearm, 508 grams of methamphetamine, 67 grams of fentanyl, and 1.75 ounces of heroin.

This case is the product of an investigation by FORT, a multi-agency team composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fresno Police Department, and the Clovis 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.