Kern County Methamphetamine Trafficking Indictments

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Santos Acevedo Gutierrez, 41, of Shafter, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, on April 30, 2014, Kern County Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at Gutierrez’s home and seized approximately four pounds of methamphetamine as well as a digital scale, packaging materials, and more than $10,000 in cash.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

Last week, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Armando Andrade Rubio, 26, of Fontana, charging him with conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. (Docket #: 1:14-cr-100-LJO)

According to court documents, on May 7, 2014, Rubio arranged to deliver a shipment of methamphetamine from Mexico to a government informant in Bakersfield. When the two met in a Lowes parking lot, Rubio showed the informant a suitcase with 18 pounds of methamphetamine.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and the Southern Tri-County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Delaney is prosecuting both cases.

If convicted, both defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.