Fresno Man Caught with 9,000 Fentanyl Pills Charged

A federal grand jury in Fresno has returned an indictment against Salvador Ortiz-Padilla, 24, charging him with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl pills.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence suspected to be Ortiz-Padilla’s on September 22, 2021. The search revealed approximately 9,000 fentanyl pills hidden in a safe that Ortiz-Padilla controlled.

Ortiz-Padilla’s arrest is the result of an investigation by the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team, a multi-agency team consisting of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case, which is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). The Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S. in July 2018 to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids and identify wholesale distribution networks.

Ortiz-Padilla faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine if convicted. However, any sentence would be determined by the court after considering applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The charges against Ortiz-Padilla are only allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

As part of the S.O.S. program, the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts are working together to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids and identify suppliers.

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