Alma Lucia Garza, Fentanyl Trafficking, California 2022

Fresno, CA - In a shocking turn of events, a federal jury has found Alma Lucia Garza, 23, of Fresno, guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Garza was a trusted assistant of the self-proclaimed M30 King of Fresno, Horacio Torrecillas Urias Jr. Between November 2, 2021, and March 31, 2022, Garza conspired with Torrecillas Urias and others to obtain, directly from sources in Mexico, tens of thousands of counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills and large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine.

The conspiracy included the distribution of these illicit drugs to drug dealers inside and outside of California. On January 27, 2022, Garza mailed a package containing cocaine and methamphetamine to a co-defendant in New Mexico. Law enforcement seized the package before it arrived at its destination. On February 9, 2022, Garza traveled with Torrecillas Urias to Sanger to deliver thousands of pills laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine. Those pills were seized by law enforcement during the execution of a residential search warrant two days later.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the United States charged Garza, Torrecillas Urias, and 17 others. With the verdict in today’s case, all defendants have pleaded or been found guilty. Sentencing in Garza’s case is set for January 6, 2025. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years prison.

The case is the result of an investigation by the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team, a multi-agency team composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Department, among others. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Antonio J. Pataca are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.

Garza, 23, of Fresno, was found guilty of the following charges: conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years prison and sentencing is set for January 6, 2025.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/federal-jury-finds-fresno-woman-tied-m30-king-fresno-guilty-trafficking-fentanyl