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San Jose Man Convicted of Methamphetamine Trafficking, Gun Charges
A federal jury has convicted Armando Daniel Calderon, 35, of four charges related to methamphetamine trafficking and gun charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon.
The verdict follows a one and a half week jury trial before the Honorable William Alsup, Senior United States District Judge. Calderon was indicted with six co-defendants on October 11, 2018, and charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on August 20, 2018, San Jose State University Police Department officers pulled over Calderon’s pickup truck in the vicinity of Keyes Street and South 3rd Street in San Jose. Officers found $5,363 in cash and six .40 caliber bullets in Calderon’s pants pockets and three bags inside his truck, one of which contained methamphetamine and .40 caliber ammunition, the second contained more methamphetamine, and the third contained a high-capacity pistol magazine loaded with 18 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.
Next to the driver’s seat, officers discovered a .40 caliber pistol loaded with nine rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. Calderon’s truck also contained a drug scale and multiple cell phones. The methamphetamine discovered in Calderon’s truck weighed approximately 1.83 pounds. Further evidence showed that in September 2018, Calderon conspired with at least one other person to distribute methamphetamine, with negotiations resulting in an agreed-upon price of $4,700 per kilogram of methamphetamine for 15 kilograms.
On September 25, 2018, Calderon met with a buyer and agreed to deliver the methamphetamine in the parking lot of a Menlo Park shopping center. Later that day, Calderon and two co-defendants were arrested near the shopping center following a short pursuit. Over 989 grams of pure methamphetamine was seized by law enforcement at the scene, and another 6,492 grams of pure methamphetamine was seized from a nearby stash house. Agents also located documents bearing Calderon’s name inside the stash house.
Senior United States District Judge William Alsup scheduled a sentencing hearing for Calderon on September 14, 2022. Calderon faces significant time in prison for his crimes, which include possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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