California Man Sentenced in Erie for Possessing Fentanyl, Cocaine, Heroin and Pills

ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of California has been sentenced in federal court to 70 months in jail on his conviction of violating federal drug laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Victor Daniel Guttierez, 48.

According to information presented to the court, between May 28, 2020 and June 8, 2020, Gutierrez conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute forty grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. The charge was based on an intercepted United States Mail parcel that Gutierrez shipped to Pennsylvania from California containing approximately 340 grams of fentanyl pills. As part of the plea, Gutierrez had also acknowledged his responsibility for attempting to possess with intent to distribute 2.125 kilograms of cocaine and 1.535 kilograms of heroin in and around September of 2019 and Gutierrez was sentenced on these amounts as well.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Baxter stated that despite Mr. Gutierrez’s claims of mitigating circumstances, his actions in trafficking these substantial quantities of controlled substances had only served to “further addiction and heartbreak” for those suffering from drug use and addiction in the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the United States Postal Inspection Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Gutierrez.