Jaime Hernandez Hernandez, Fentanyl Trafficking, Washington 2021

SEATTLE – Three men, Jaime Hernandez Hernandez, Gorge Ortiz, and Stanley Stubbs, were arrested on an indictment charging a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in Whatcom County, Washington.

According to the indictment, the defendants distributed thousands of pills tainted with potentially deadly fentanyl between September 2020 and January 2021. Hernandez, 21, of Ferndale, Washington, is charged with three additional counts of fentanyl distribution. Ortiz, 23, of Lynden, Washington, is also charged with three additional counts of fentanyl distribution. Stubbs, 51, of Bellingham, Washington, is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The investigation revealed that the defendants were responsible for the distribution of thousands of fentanyl pills. In total, over 5,000 fentanyl pills were seized during the execution of eight search warrants. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) HIDTA Bellingham Residence Office, which is comprised of DEA, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S Customs and Border Protection.

Hernandez, Ortiz, and Stubbs face mandatory minimum ten-year sentences if convicted. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs. The effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Jaime Hernandez Hernandez, 21, of Ferndale, Washington, is charged with:

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
Three additional counts of fentanyl distribution

Gorge Ortiz, 23, of Lynden, Washington, is charged with:

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
Three additional counts of fentanyl distribution

Stanley Stubbs, 51, of Bellingham, Washington, is charged with:

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
Possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute
Being a felon in possession of a firearm

Today, eight search warrants were executed, and law enforcement seized more than 5,000 fentanyl pills. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement has seized thousands of fentanyl pills and pound quantities of heroin and methamphetamine.

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