Lucresia Stone-Rojas, Heroin Trafficking, California 2023

San Diego Woman Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Heroin-Tainted Bibles

Lucresia Stone-Rojas, a 46-year-old San Diego woman, was sentenced to 86 months in prison for her role in a heroin trafficking operation that used Bibles to smuggle the deadly drug into California prisons. The sentencing, which took place on November 12, 2023, was the culmination of a lengthy investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

According to court records, police stopped Stone-Rojas on November 12, 2023 after a license plate reader identified a stolen Porsche near North Second Street and East Main Street in El Cajon. During the stop, police recovered a loaded 9mm Walther firearm and an additional ammunition magazine. Multiple prior felony convictions prohibit Stone-Rojas from possessing a firearm or ammunition, leading to charges of felon in possession of a firearm.

Stone-Rojas was again arrested by federal investigators on December 27, 2023, this time for possession with intent to distribute heroin. A search of packages addressed to multiple prison inmates in the California Department of Corrections revealed two Bibles containing approximately 23 grams of heroin. The drugs were concealed in the spine of the Bibles and destined for delivery to two different California prisons.

“Smuggling drugs into our prisons endangers both the inmates and the correctional staff,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “It will not be tolerated.”

Stone-Rojas was charged with felon in possession of a firearm, with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, as well as possession with intent to distribute heroin, with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Stone-Rojas pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 86 months in prison. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing gun violence and other violent crime in communities across the country.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/san-diego-woman-sentenced-7-years-prison-possession-intent-distribute-heroin-filled