A drug trafficking case involving large volumes of fentanyl from August last year that originated in Simi Valley has been taken over by federal prosecutors, according to authorities.
The four Los Angeles men charged for an alleged 17 counts of drug trafficking in Ventura County faces a federal indictment with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years each in federal prison, according to a Ventura County District Attorney’s Office news release.
On June 12, the U.S. Attorney’s Office secured a federal grand jury indictment for the four Los Angeles men stemming from a large-scale drug trafficking operation involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, the release said. As a result of the federal action, the county DA’s office dismissed the case against the four on June 15.
The case comes from an investigation by the Simi Valley Police Department, the release said. Last August, department detectives were assisted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to execute multiple search warrants in L.A. County to find about 24 pounds of fentanyl, almost 19 pounds of methamphetamine, 4.5 pounds of heroin and one pound of cocaine. Officials also found $129,000 in cash, digital scales and packaging materials and estimated the total street value of what they’ve seized at around $1.4 million.
The four men range in age from 23 to 31, jail records show. All four were arrested on Aug. 7 last year and released early June 16 to federal authorities, jail records show.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Federal prosecutors take over Simi Valley drug case with four L.A. men
Reporting by Staff reports, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Staff reports, Ventura County Star | USA TODAY Network
