San Jose Residents Charged With Alleged Conspiracy To Distribute Methamphetamine And Fentanyl

SAN JOSE – A federal grand jury indicted Miguel Angel Bravo Vasquez, Francisco Heredia Munoz, and Jose Alberto Cruz Garcia with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and related charges, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Spradlin.

The indictment, filed earlier today, describes a drug distribution conspiracy that continued from about September 11, 2018, to July 17, 2019, including distributions of methamphetamine and fentanyl.  An affidavit filed by a special agent with HSI in connection with a criminal complaint filed in the same case describes an investigation into a drug trafficking organization in San Jose.  The complaint alleges that on September 11, 2018, in San Jose, Bravo Vasquez, 33, and Heredia Munoz, 47, sold HSI undercover agents five pounds of methamphetamine, then delivered the payment to Cruz Garcia, 37, for that methamphetamine.  In addition to the methamphetamine, Bravo Vasquez and Heredia Munoz allegedly gave the undercover agents a sample of 100 blue fentanyl pills.  Further, on December 18, 2018, Bravo Vasquez, Heredia Munoz, and Cruz Garcia allegedly sold the undercover agents additional fentanyl pills.  The complaint alleges that on July 17, 2019, the three defendants attempted to sell the undercover agents another 37 pounds of methamphetamine, but were arrested during the transaction.

The indictment filed today charges all three defendants with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1); one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(viii); and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(vi).  Defendants Bravo Vasquez and Heredia Munoz are also charged with one additional count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine.  All three defendants were arrested on July 17, 2019, and remain in federal custody.  In proceedings today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi, defendants Heredia Munoz and Cruz Garcia were arraigned on the charges.  Bravo Vasquez is scheduled to be arraigned before Magistrate Judge DeMarchi on July 29, 2019, at 1:30 p.m.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and Bravo Vasquez, Heredia Munoz, and Cruz Garcia, like all defendants, are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted of any of the drug charges, the defendants face a maximum statutory sentence of 40 years in prison and a fine in the amount of $5,000,000.  The court also may order an additional term of supervised release, and fines or other assessments.  However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Simeon is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Tong Zhang.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI.