Cesar Lopez Reyes and Angel Tovar, Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Illinois 2023

Two California Men Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking Narcotics to Central Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In a concerted effort to combat the rising tide of illicit drug sales, two men from Santa Ana, California, have been sentenced to multiple years in prison for trafficking narcotics to Central Illinois.

Cesar Lopez Reyes, 21, and Angel Tovar, 22, were each charged with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and information presented at public court hearings, the two men had been using social media to conduct a mail-order drug business, which distributed illegal narcotics via the U.S. Mail across the country to Nevada, Oregon, North Carolina, Kentucky, and to multiple places in Illinois.

Tovar conducted sales and Lopez Reyes assisted in shipping the illegal substances. The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Illinois State Police West Central Illinois Task Force opened an investigation into the duo after intercepting a package containing methamphetamine, cocaine, and counterfeit pills bound for Adams County, Illinois. The two men were arrested at their residences in Orange County, California. At Tovar’s home, law enforcement recovered an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

Lopez Reyes was sentenced on August 30, 2023, to 60 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Tovar was sentenced on October 3, 2023, to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. At both hearings, U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless noted that while neither man had any criminal convictions, each had committed a very serious offense.

Lopez Reyes pleaded guilty on April 25, 2023, and Tovar pleaded guilty on May 10, 2023. The distribution of illegal drugs, including methamphetamine and counterfeit pills, via social media is happening nationwide, and young adults are particularly susceptible to this type of marketing.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to dismantling drug trafficking operations to keep USPS customers and employees safe from drug traffickers who favor profit over human lives. This case is an example of the dedication of the Inspection Service and its law enforcement partners to prevent the shipping of illegal narcotics through the U.S. Mail, which not only endangers the public but also places USPS employees at risk.

According to the press release, the investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police West Central Illinois Task Force; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Quincy Police Department; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, with valuable assistance from the Santa Ana Police Department. Assistance was also provided by the Adams County State’s Attorney’s Office. AUSA Seberger represented the government in the prosecution.

The cases against Lopez Reyes and Tovar are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities to combat violent crime and gang activity. Through the investigation and subsequent prosecution of this case, law enforcement agencies have demonstrated their commitment to protecting public safety and holding individuals accountable for their actions.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil/pr/two-california-men-sentenced-prison-drug-trafficking