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Fresno Man Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Prison for Dealing Fentanyl Pills and Illegally Possessing Firearm
A 24-year-old Fresno man has been sentenced to six years and six months in prison for possessing hundreds of fentanyl pills with intent to distribute them and illegally possessing a firearm in furtherance of the offense.
Morgan Wency Ventura Sanchez, of Fresno, was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his role in a fentanyl trafficking operation.
According to court documents, in August 2020, federal and local law enforcement officers were investigating Ventura Sanchez for dealing fentanyl pills. On Aug. 24, 2020, officers searched Ventura Sanchez’s car, person, and residence and found hundreds of fentanyl pills, as well as other controlled substances, including heroin, cocaine, and marijuana.
Officers also found a loaded firearm close to Ventura Sanchez’s drug stash. Ventura Sanchez was arrested and pleaded guilty to federal drug and gun charges.
The case was the product 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted 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.
This case was also prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the government’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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