LOS ANGELES
Three Mexican men arrested in El Monte on Wednesday for allegedly possessing 1 million fentanyl pills have been charged in a criminal complaint with violating federal drug laws, the Justice Department announced Thursday.
The complaint filed charges against the following defendants – each of whom is from Sinaloa, Mexico – with one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances:
- Florencio Camacho Allan, 28;
- Gerardo Gaixola-Patino, 29; and
- Alex Valdez Oroz, 25.
According to a court affidavit, the defendants met with two buyers at a restaurant in El Segundo on Tuesday to discuss a 10,000-fentanyl-pill sample sale which a deal would follow for 1 million fentanyl pills.
During the meeting, Allan and Gaixola met with the buyers while Oroz remained in the car, a white Volkswagen Jetta, the affidavit states.
After the meeting, Allan and Gaixola went to the parking lot, where they allegedly sold 10,000 fentanyl pills to the buyers for $7,500.
The defendants then left the restaurant under the surveillance of law enforcement.
Later that day, Allan allegedly confirmed with one of the buyers that they were interested in doing the 1 million pill deal later that day and showed one buyer the pills, which appeared to be in the Jetta’s trunk, via a WhatsApp video call.
Upon receiving information about the pills’ location, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on the Jetta, which was stationed in a lot at an El Monte hotel.
They searched the car and found about 1 million fentanyl pills in its body and trunk. Law enforcement then arrested the three defendants on Wednesday morning.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to life in federal prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lyndsi C. Allsop of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and K. Afia Bondero of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.