Joseph Edward Conner, Possession With Intent To Distribute Crystal Methamphetamine, California 2014

Oakland – In a shocking turn of events, 47-year-old Joseph Edward Conner of Bay Point, California pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute over four pounds of crystal methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Conner engaged in three transactions with an undercover officer working with the DEA in an effort to distribute the methamphetamine. On August 22, 2014, Conner negotiated the sale of a half-pound of 99% pure methamphetamine for $3,000. The sale took place in the parking lot of the Sun Valley Mall in Concord, California.

Later, Conner used text messages to arrange another meeting with the undercover officer that would take place on November 6, 2014, at the same parking lot. Upon meeting with the undercover, Conner handed the officer a pound of 99.5% pure methamphetamine in exchange for $5,400. The third transaction occurred on December 16, 2014, for three pounds of 97.5% pure methamphetamine. On this occasion, Conner sought to sell the drugs for $14,400, but was arrested prior to completing the sale.

Conner was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 2, 2015. He was charged with three counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Under the plea agreement, Conner pleaded guilty to all three counts alleged in the indictment.

Following his arrest on December 16, 2014, Conner was released on a $150,000 secured bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 28, 2016, for a sentencing hearing before the Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., U.S. District Judge, in Oakland.

The maximum penalty for a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 is 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine. Conner is currently facing a sentencing hearing, where any sentence will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The case is the result of an investigation by the DEA, assisted by IRS Criminal Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, South San Francisco Police Department, Oakland Police Department, Oakland School Police Department, Walnut Creek Police Department, and San Ramon Police Department.

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