LOS ANGELES – The gritty streets of Reseda witnessed a pivotal moment in its crime saga as Julio Ernesto Lopez-Menendez, 27, a.k.a. “Iroe,” stood guilty for his dark deeds. He pleaded to distributing nearly 17 pounds of meth and running an unlicensed firearms empire that included the sale of 89 firearms, many being the elusive ‘ghost guns’.
Since April 2022, Lopez-Menendez has been in federal custody, a stark contrast to his previous reign of terror on the streets. His plea agreement reveals a chilling pattern from January 2022 to his arrest: selling massive quantities of meth and firearms with ease.
The man known as “Iroe” didn’t just deal drugs; he dealt death. A single transaction on January 20, 2022, saw him handing over a dozen guns, including ten ghost gun pistols. On February 10, the same buyer was sold nearly one pound of meth and 14 firearms for $15,000.
But it didn’t end there. Two significant drug deals in March 2022 added to his tally: 4.2 kilograms (9.2 pounds) on March 8th and another 2.2 kilograms (4.8 pounds) on March 23rd. Lopez-Menendez’s total haul included approximately 53 ghost guns out of the 89 firearms, all without a federal firearms license or registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Judge André Birotte Jr. has set May 26th for sentencing, where Lopez-Menendez may face life in prison. The FBI, BATFE, DEA, and LAPD’s HIDTA program had worked tirelessly to bring this meth dealer to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Chou is leading the prosecution.
This case underscores the relentless effort of law enforcement to combat drug trafficking and illegal firearms trade in California. Lopez-Menendez’s fate serves as a stark warning to others: the streets are not safe for those who deal in death and destruction.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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