Fresno Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for a Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana

FRESNO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii sentenced Iran Dennis “Denny” Foster, 46, of Fresno, today to 18 months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Iran Foster is one of seven defendants named in a multicount indictment returned on April 9, 2015, charging them with a variety of drug trafficking offenses. One of the defendants was former Fresno deputy police chief Keith Foster. His nephew, Iran Foster, regularly traveled to Northern California to purchase marijuana for distribution. Iran Foster pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. According to the plea agreement, Iran Foster admitted that his primary source of income was derived from marijuana sales.

Keith Foster proceeded to trial, and on May 23, 2017, a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2017.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie L. Alsworth and Dawrence W. Rice Jr. are prosecuting the case.

Five co-defendants have pleaded guilty and have either been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing. Ricky Reynolds is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2017. Randy Flowers, 51, was sentenced on July 10, 2017 to two years and nine months in prison. On October 11, 2016, Rafael Guzman, 43, of Fresno was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Jennifer Donabedian, 38, of Fresno, pleaded guilty to concealing a felony and served 12 months’ probation. Sarah Ybarra, 39, of Fresno, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and served one year in prison.