Sacramento Man Indicted Following His Arrest In Fresno With 19 Pounds Of Methamphetamine

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Wenceslao Cruz Ochoa, 34, of Sacramento, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, on November 13, 2014, Ochoa was stopped by a Fresno County Sheriff’s deputy on Interstate 5 for a moving violation. A canine trained in the detection of controlled substances alerted the deputy to the presence of drugs, which prompted a search of his vehicle. Approximately 19 pounds of methamphetamine was located inside  a suitcase.

This case is the product of an investigation by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Frye is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Ochoa faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5 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.