Richard Mendoza, Fentanyl Trafficking, New York 2020

A California man is behind bars after being caught with a large quantity of fentanyl in New York. Richard Mendoza, 50, of Desert Hot Springs, California, was charged with one count of conspiring to distribute fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

According to the allegations in the Complaint and Indictment, Mendoza was identified as an individual who was working to coordinate shipments of fentanyl to New York on behalf of a drug trafficking organization. On September 16, 2020, law enforcement intercepted phone calls in which Mendoza was preparing to receive a truck that had been pre-loaded with narcotics by other members of the drug trafficking organization.

On September 17, 2020, Mendoza was the driver and sole occupant of a truck that was ultimately stopped and searched by law enforcement. During the search, they found approximately nine kilograms of fentanyl that were packaged and hidden inside the vehicle’s exhaust system.

Mendoza will be presented and arraigned at a later date upon his arrival in this district. The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit, with Assistant United States Attorneys Peter J. Davis and Andrew A. Rohrbach in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint and Indictment are merely accusations, and Mendoza is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) New York Strike Force is a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The Strike Force is affiliated with the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department, New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, New York National Guard, Clarkstown Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Port Washington Police Department, and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Mendoza's alleged crimes were uncovered through the efforts of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) New York Strike Force. The team's outstanding investigative work has led to the arrest and charging of Mendoza, and their efforts will continue to be crucial in the prosecution of this case.

The charges against Mendoza are a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by fentanyl trafficking in our communities. As law enforcement continues to work tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle these organizations, we must also remain vigilant in our efforts to prevent the spread of this deadly substance.

In related news, the Office’s Narcotics Unit has been working closely with local law enforcement agencies to address the growing concern of fentanyl trafficking in the region. The unit's efforts have resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of fentanyl and the arrest of numerous individuals involved in the trade.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/california-man-charged-transporting-large-quantity-fentanyl