FRESNO, Calif. — A $1.8 million windfall has been handed over to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, marking the distribution of forfeited drug proceeds from a synthetic drug trafficking organization investigation.
Victor Anthony Nottoli, 51, of Hillsborough, was behind the operation, which saw him conspire to defraud the United States and introduce at least 24 tons of misbranded smokable synthetic cannabinoids into interstate commerce. He pleaded guilty on May 15, 2014, and agreed to forfeit more than $6.5 million in drug proceeds.
The forfeited funds included $6,488,000 in cash, a 2013 Ford F350 pickup truck, and a 2014 Airstream travel trailer. Nottoli is set to be sentenced on March 26, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd.
U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert praised the Asset Forfeiture Program for ‘taking the profits out of crime,’ adding that the returned funds are a testament to the partnership between local and federal law enforcement agencies in combating organized crime.
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims emphasized the importance of partnerships, saying that the proceeds will be used as per equitable sharing guidelines to combat illegal drug activity in their region. Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Batdorf of IRS-CI highlighted the dismantling of Nottoli’s organization and the benefit it brings to public safety.
John J. Martin, DEA Special Agent in Charge, noted that strong partnerships build stronger communities and that this investigation demonstrates how equitable sharing benefits public safety. Ryan L. Spradlin, HSI San Francisco special agent in charge, emphasized the commitment to keeping Americans safe through collaborative law enforcement efforts.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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