Drug Trafficker Who Possessed Pills Laced With Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, And Heroin Sentenced To 48 Months In Prison

SAN FRANCISCO – Bernardo Olivas Leyva was sentenced today to 4 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent Ray M. Roundtree.  The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, Senior U.S. District Judge.

Olivas Leyva pleaded guilty on December 19, 2018, to a single count indictment charging a violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)(viii), conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.  According to the plea agreement Olivas Leyva admitted that he had agreed with an individual based in Mexico to bring methamphetamine into the United States.  Olivas Leyva admitted that he and his co-defendant, Carlos Luna Rodriguez, obtained methamphetamine, heroin, and a quantity of pills in Fontana, California, in a truck that they intended to drive to Seattle, Washington.  Olivas Leyva admitted that there were 126 pounds of methamphetamine, 2.5 pounds of suspected heroin, and 2,990 pills that contained fentanyl in the truck.

Olivas Leyva, 63, a citizen of Mexico, along with Luna Rodriguez, 23, also a citizen of Mexico, were indicted by a federal grand jury on June 5, 2018, with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Luna Rodriguez pled guilty on December 19, 2018, to a superseding information that charged him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A).  He was sentenced on March 15, 2019, to 15 months in prison.

Sheila Armbrust is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case with the assistance of Linda Love.  The prosecution is the result of a multi-year investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.