Fresno, California – A brazen synthetic drug smuggling scheme has been uncovered in Fresno County, with two residents facing serious charges. Terry Ford, 37, and Dawn Peters, 35, both of Clovis, have been indicted on eight counts, including distributing synthetic drugs, conspiracy, and money laundering.
According to court documents, Ford and Peters possessed with intent to distribute Dibutylone HCI, a controlled substance, and Alpha-PHP, an analogue of a controlled substance. The indictment further alleges that Ford and Peters conspired to launder money internationally by wiring money to China to promote the distribution of controlled substances or analogues.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincenza Rabenn is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.
The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Terry Ford and Dawn Peters remain free on bond, awaiting their day in court. The case highlights the ongoing struggle against synthetic drug trafficking and the need for continued vigilance from law enforcement agencies.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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