Need more information or looking for a custom solution? He graduated from California State University, Fullerton, in 1981 with a bachelor of arts in communication. Two alleged drug dealers are behind bars after what OC authorities describe as the largest drug bust in 16 years. The investigations were conducted by the DEAs Overdose Justice Task Force, which was created to address opioid-related deaths in the greater Los Angeles area, most of which are caused by the synthetic fentanyl. Omar Alejandro Reynoso, 30, of Costa Mesa was arrested Monday after a grand jury indicted him last week on two counts of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said: "Millions of unsuspecting people have the grim reaper looking over their shoulder and they have no idea how close they actually are to dying from taking a single pill. WebA total of 21 people were arrested for investigation of a variety of drug- and trafficking-related charges, such as enticement, sexual solicitation and unlawful sexual conduct, Hoovlers office is seeking the publics assistance in the apprehension of Arias and Russell. They also face several felony enhancement charges related to weight and volume of the controlled substances. Law enforcement officials declined to release any further details about the drug bust or why they pulled over that vehicle. Dubet says Mexican drug cartels are flooding the U.S. with fentanyl to keep up with the demand by drug users as well as to get potentially new customers. Or you can choose to leave the dividers out altogether. Some of the alleged drug traffickers knew or had reason to believe their products contained fentanyl, even though they claimed to be selling other narcotics. The agency said it seized three guns, almost $200,000 in assets and more than 3 kilos of fentanyl. Just days ago in Phoenix, federal agents seized 150,000 fentanyl pills along with a kilo of fentanyl powder. Charges have been filed against two alleged drug dealers from Buena Park who had With fentanyl in an estimated 40 percent of street drugs, its not a matter of if but when someone you know and love dies from fentanyl. drug bust 2 suspects accused of shipping fentanyl out of country from Orange County, police say Officers located five pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the suspects' vehicle. @KFIAM640 pic.twitter.com/52BHHe49tc, Corbin Carson (@CorbinCarson) April 6, 2022. WebIRVINE (CBSLA) Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Department got more than they bargained for during a Wednesday afternoon traffic stop in Irvine. The arrests are part of a multi-agency investigation and enforcement action conducted by the Orange County Drug Task Force, the Orange County Sheriffs Office, Town Police in New Windsor and Wallkill, and the City of Port Jervis Police Department, assisted by the Orange County District Attorneys Office, the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center and the City of Newburgh Police Department. Law enforcement officials say 2 milligrams of fentanyl is enough to kill someone, which would mean a single sugar-packets worth of the opioid would pack 500 lethal doses. The DEA and the Orange County Sheriffs Department are investigating this case, to be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marrett. (RELATED: Desperate Mothers Of Drug Addicts Take Out Billboard In San Francisco Lamenting Drug Crisis), BREAKING: DA Spitzer announces felony charges in Orange Countys largest drug bust in 16 years. EMBED <> More Videos 15,000 'rainbow' fentanyl pills seized during Orange County drug bust. Reynoso allegedly provided counterfeit Xanax pills containing fentanyl to a man and a woman who died in his hotel room in incidents three weeks apart in November 2019. DURABOX products are manufactured in Australia from more than 60% recycled materials. It takes just 2 milligrams of fentanyl to be a lethal dose. Lamaslopez and Raygozaparedes are charged with three felony counts each of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell and sale or transport of a controlled substance, and they face sentencing enhancements for substances exceeding 80 kilograms by weight and 20 kilograms by weight or 400 liters by liquid volume. Spitzer's office is emphasizing the potential lethality of the drug in part because of a new approach to prosecuting drug dealers potentially for murder in the event of an overdose. Both men are scheduled to return to court on June 7. Fentanyl is cheap, its easy to get and it is killing our children, our coworkers, and tens of thousands of innocent Americans who dont have to die, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in the statement. City News Service contributed to this report, 3 Kansas City officers shot while executing search warrant, chief says, At least 29 dead, 85 injured after trains collide in Greece: officials, Roof collapses at nonprofit South LA clinic, causing $500K in damage. Jacksonville DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Mike Dubet says there has been a recent uptick in mass overdoses in recent months. Buena Park police recovered 821 pounds of methamphetamine, 189.7 pounds of cocaine and 20.5 pounds of fentanyl pills in a traffic stop of a minivan on March 17, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. WebApril 3, 2022 In the last two months alone, there have been at least seven confirmed mass overdose events tied to fentanyl across the U.S. resulting in 58 overdoses and 29 deaths, WebPUBLISHED: April 22, 2022 at 3:08 p.m. | UPDATED: April 22, 2022 at 4:52 p.m. Federal charges carrying the potential for life in prison have been filed against suspected drug WebDetectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Narcotic Bureau identified over 500 illegal marijuana cultivations in 2021, increasing from the 150 identified in 2020, according to a announced a new crackdown on fentanyl through policies calling for dealers who sell fetanyl-laced drugs to face murder charges. They've both pleaded not guilty and remain in custody, on a $5 mil bail. And when youre done, DURABOX products are recyclable for eco-friendly disposal. We have to continue to do everything we can to combat this deadly drug epidemic and save lives.. Drug dealers don't care about you or your loved ones -- they only care about their bottom line and making as much money as possible," said Spitzer. Among the deaths are three people who fatally overdosed on Balboa Island in 2021 after ingesting what they thought was straight cocaine. WASHINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Multiple police agencies conducted drug raids at two Orange County homes early Friday. Smaller box sizes are available with a choice of one, two, three or four dividers, while the larger box sizes come with an option for a fifth divider. HUNTINGTON BEACH (CNS) -- Five pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine were seized and two people suspected of shipping fentanyl out of the country were arrested Wednesday by the Huntington Beach Police Department. In November 2021, Spitzer announced his office could charge convicted drug dealers with murder if the drugs they manufactured or distributed to people led to death, according to KTLA. Police arrested 36-year-old Edgar Alfonso Lamas and 53-year-old Carlos Raygozaparedes after authorities found 821 lbs of meth, nearly 190 pounds of cocaine and 20.5 pounds of fentanyl pills inside a minivan pulling out from an Orange County, CA home. DURABOX double lined solid fibreboard will protect your goods from dust, humidity and corrosion. His stories have led to the closure of a chain of badly-run group homes, the end of a state program that placed criminals in inappropriate public jobs and the creation of a civilian oversight office for the Orange County Sheriff's Department, among other things. WebLocally, the number of fentanyl related deaths in Orange County grew from 36 in 2016 to 636 in 2021, a 1600 percent increase, according to county statistics. Sean Emery is a crime and public safety reporter for the Register who covers state and federal courts and criminal justice issues. His work has been recognized by the National Headliner Club, the Associated Press Sports Editors, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association and the Orange County Press Club. They face a maximum of 37 years and four months in prison. All rights reserved. Klein allegedly sold fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills to the victim in February 2021. Edgar Alfonzo Lamas, 36, and Carlos Raygozaparedes, 53, both have been charged with multiple felonies counts related to the bust including possession and transportation for sale of a controlled substance as well as sentencing enhancements tied to the amount of drugs allegedly found. Despite bail reform legislation that has prevented courts from setting bail in most instances on drug dealers, my office will continue to pursue these actions and see the cases through to their conclusion. The drugs were found in a minivan that police pulled over after a driver left a Buena Park home, the DA statement said. Carter Joseph Klein, 25, of Newport Beach was arrested on April 14 after he was named in a one-count indictment accusing him of distributing fentanyl that led to the overdose death of an 18-year-old Orange Coast College student. Last November, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced the Orange County District Attorneys Office is warning every convicted drug dealer and distributor of the dangers of drugs especially fentanyl and advising them that if their drug activities result is someones death they can be charged with murder. Copyright 2023 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. And if you cant find a DURABOX size or configuration that meets your requirements, we can order a custom designed model to suit your specific needs. ORANGE, Texas A man and woman are behind bars after law enforcement officials found narcotics and firearms during an Orange County drug bust. The indictment further alleges that Fender committed the federal offense after he was convicted of a drug-trafficking crime in Orange County Superior Court in 2013. Buena Park Police Department officers recovered the contraband on March 17 from Edgar Alfonso Lamas, 36, and Carlos Raygozaparedes, 53, after pulling over a minivan that was leaving a home in Buena Park, according to the release. KABC. Levels at 500 micrograms or higher are used for anesthetic purposes and if someone were to take 2 milligrams, it "would certainly be lethal," he said. This case and its results show the commitment of the Sheriffs Office and our law enforcement partners to remain resolute in seeking out and arresting those persons who choose to sell narcotic drugs in Orange County. Klein pleaded not guilty April 15 and was ordered to stand trial on June 7. Tony Saavedra is an investigative reporter specializing in legal affairs for the Orange County Register. Former Orange County Sheriffs Deputy Charged with Showing Pornographic Videos to Teenage Girls while Working as School Resource Officer, Co-founder of Hessians Motorcycle Club turned Lawyer Granted Compassionate Release after Conviction for 1980 Triple Execution Murders; Prosecutors objected to release of Thomas Maniscalco, arguing he poses a significant threat to public safety. Yes! On the state level, lawmakers have been wary of legislation that would stiffen penalties for fentanyl dealers, hoping to avoid what they view as mistakes from the War on Drugs era when studies have shown tougher sentences did little to deter traffickers and unequal sentencing patters often targeted people of color. Thank you., Its been a pleasure dealing with Krosstech., We are really happy with the product. Isai Hernandez Higinio, a.k.a. They are next due in court May 16 in the North Justice Center in Fullerton for a pretrial hearing. The defendants in the latest widespread drug investigation are: Intelligence and information gathered from narcotics operations, such as this one, helps to solve other crimes and is a key component in our overall criminal justice strategy, said District Attorney Hoovler. The DEA and the Huntington Beach Police Department are investigating the case, to be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gina J. Kong. Two Buena Park men have been arrested and charged with multiple felonies after authorities confiscated over 800 pounds of methamphetamines and nearly 190 pounds of cocaine, according to the Orange County District Attorney. 300 North Flower Street The DEA and Costa Mesa Police Department are investigating this case, to be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rosalind Wang. Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. Under the new policy, prosecutors are seeking to have an admonishment added to plea deals requiring dealers to acknowledge that fentanyl is in street drugs and can be deadly. Investigators collected Authorities also recovered "enough fentanyl to kill 4.7 million people," according to the statement. The Orange County DA's office noted in particular the potential lethality of fentanyl when someone overdoses. We have to continue to do everything we can to combat this deadly drug epidemic and save lives.". Matthew Benjamin Hurley, 24, of Virginia, was arrested January 3 on charges alleging that he distributed fentanyl at a motel in Costa Mesa that resulted in a fatal overdose. jQuery( "#gtranslate_wrapper" ).appendTo( jQuery( ".headerTranslate" ) ); Contact the team at KROSSTECH today to learn more about DURABOX. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. All seven are charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. A lethal dose is considered to be as little as 2 milligrams, and officers found 20.5 pounds. Massive quantities of fentanyl, meth, cocaine seized in OC's - Copyright 2023 by City News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved. In addition, authorities said they found nearly 200 pounds of cocaine and more than 800 pounds of meth.. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Upon investigating, officers learned that the suspects were allegedly shipping fentanyl out of the country, and additional charges are pending, police said. Multiple charges have been filed against the two alleged drug Federal grand jury indictments or criminal complaints have been filed against seven defendants. Lamas and Raygozaparedes remain in custody on $5 million bail after pleading not guilty to the charges. WebThe bust marked Orange Countys largest drug bust in 16 years, the district attorneys office said in a press release. Saavedra has worked as a journalist since 1979 and has held positions at several Southern California newspapers before arriving at the Orange County Register in 1990. They said the amount of the opioid that was seized could kill 4.7 million people, based on death resulting from a 2 milligram dose. In narcotics sweeps in Orange County prior to the legislation, some bail was set by the court for almost all defendants charged with selling narcotics. ORANGE COUNTY Eleven people are facing drug charges after a lengthy multi-department investigation, Fentanyl does not discriminate and its affecting every community, ethnicity and generation throughout our country.. The two men pleaded not guilty to the charges during arraignments on March 21, court records show, and both remain in custody in lieu of $5 million bail. Dozens charged in Orange County narcotics investigation - Sullivan County Democrat Advertise Subscriber Services Subscribe Monticello Wednesday, February 15, 2023 40 F Partly Cloudy National Award-winning, Family-run Newspaper Advanced search News Sports High school College Outdoors Sports columns Hoy En Sullivan Noticias y Santa Ana, CA 92703 Officers located five pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the car, and the driver and passenger were arrested for allegedly possessing narcotics for sale, police said. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. On the heels of a nationwide warning from the Drug Enforcement Administration about fentanyl-related mass-overdose deaths, News4JAX has learend that police in Southern California seized more than 20 pounds of the drug during a bust in Santa Ana. The video in the media player above is from a previous story. After police officers pulled over a minivan in Buena Park on March 17, they found 20.5 pounds of fentanyl pills, 189.7 pounds of cocaine and 821 pounds of meth, officials said. WebSANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Two alleged drug dealers were behind bars Wednesday after what Orange County authorities described as the largest drug bust in the past 16 years. Then, the prosecutors say, if a dealer is involved in another fentanyl sale that results in death, second-degree murder charges could be filed. Authorities seized what they described as a massive and potentially lethal quantity of drugs. In December of last year, agents in Arizona seized a local record amount of fentanyl in one bust drug bust a whopping 1.7 million fentanyl pills. The seizure occurred when after an officer on patrol stopped a vehicle after seeing the driver and passenger exit it and litter, police said. A total of 19 suspects were indicted. 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