SAN FRANCISCO, California – Three members of syndicates in Northern California have been convicted of multiple narcotics offenses after an eight-day trial, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The trial presented evidence from intercepted calls between April 2018 and February 2019 as part of a federal wiretap investigation into two drug suppliers in the East Bay.
The intercepted calls revealed that the suppliers obtained drugs from sources in Mexico. Federal prosecutors showcased several significant drug seizures as evidence, including 8.8 pounds of fentanyl and heroin valued at up to $1.1 million, 18 pounds of methamphetamine, and 20 pounds of methamphetamine alongside one kilogram of cocaine. In addition, more than $300,000 in drug-related cash was seized during the investigation.
One of the defendants, 38-year-old Luis Torres “Guero” Garcia, was a drug trafficker in Humboldt County who received methamphetamine shipments on credit from a drug supplier based in Fairfield. In August 2018, law enforcement intercepted a drug courier attempting to deliver around 18 pounds of methamphetamine worth $158,000 to Garcia.
In February 2019, Garcia was tracked by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to a meeting in Windsor where he handed about $13,800 in cash to a courier for his drug supplier. Despite being present throughout the trial, Garcia fled before the jury found him guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, becoming a fugitive.
Another convicted trafficker, 31-year-old Evan Martinez Diaz, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as possession with intent to distribute both substances. Diaz was intercepted by law enforcement on February 9, 2019, while transporting approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine and one kilogram of cocaine through an Antioch neighborhood. Realizing he was being followed, Diaz drove erratically and instructed an accomplice to dispose of the drugs in the bushes. Officers later recovered the drugs, which were valued at $177,860 for the methamphetamine and $40,000 for the cocaine.
During the investigation, Timothy Peoples, a 44-year-old Antioch resident, was arrested after officers discovered cocaine in his home. Peoples was charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Evidence presented in court indicated that he regularly purchased cocaine from a local wholesaler, acquiring over 10.5 pounds in 90 days for more than $120,000. Prosecutors revealed that Peoples often referred to the cocaine quantities using the codeword “babies” and used his proceeds to purchase expensive vehicles.
The sentencing for Garcia, Diaz, and Peoples is scheduled for June 11. If convicted, Garcia could face a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, while Diaz and Peoples each face a maximum of 20 years in prison for their respective convictions.