Terry Ford and Dawn Peters, Synthetic Drug Trafficking, California

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury has dropped the hammer on Terry Ford, 37, and Dawn Peters, 35, both of Clovis, leveling an eight-count indictment against them for their alleged role in a synthetic drug smuggling scheme.

According to court documents, the duo is accused of distributing Dibutylone HCI, a controlled substance, and Alpha-PHP, an analogue of a controlled substance. But that’s not all—Ford and Peters are also charged with conspiracy and money laundering for wiring funds internationally to China, purportedly to boost the distribution of illegal substances.

The investigation into this sordid affair was spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincenza Rabenn is taking the case to court.

Should they be found guilty, Ford and Peters could face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. However, any sentence would ultimately rest on the discretion of the court, considering various factors outlined by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative, which has been in place since 1982 to dismantle major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The OCDETF program’s mission: to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking operations and those behind the nation’s drug supply.

The charges against Ford and Peters are mere allegations at this point; they are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.