Los Angeles County Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 372 Pounds of Methamphetamine in Kern County

FRESNO, Calif. — Edgardo Rosales-Andrade, 26, of Paramount, California, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, from Sept. 30, 2019, to Nov. 15, 2019, Rosales-Andrade conspired with Pedro Alegra and others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On Nov. 15, 2019, law enforcement agents tracked a cargo truck carrying 312 pounds of methamphetamine to Delano where Alegra and Rosales-Andrade were waiting. Agents obtained a search warrant for the truck and Alegra’s residence and found an additional 60 pounds of methamphetamine in the residence. The methamphetamine was concealed in furniture in the cargo truck.

This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Patrol, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is prosecuting the case.

On June 17, 2022, Pedro Alegra pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Rosales is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on June 26, 2023. Rosales faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will 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.