They are currently in custody with bail set at $5 million and their preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 7 at the North Justice Center in Fullerton. The two men pleaded not guilty to the charges during arraignments on March 21, court records show, and both remain in custody in lieu of $5 million bail. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. EMBED <> More Videos 15,000 'rainbow' fentanyl pills seized during Orange County drug bust. "Millions of unsuspecting people have the grim reaper looking over their shoulder and they have no idea how close they actually are to dying from taking a single pill," said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. Lamaslopez and Raygozaparedes are charged with three felony counts each of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell and sale or transport of a controlled substance, and they face sentencing enhancements for substances exceeding 80 kilograms by weight and 20 kilograms by weight or 400 liters by liquid volume. On the state level, lawmakers have been wary of legislation that would stiffen penalties for fentanyl dealers, hoping to avoid what they view as mistakes from the War on Drugs era when studies have shown tougher sentences did little to deter traffickers and unequal sentencing patters often targeted people of color. And last year in Los Angeles, more than 3 million fentanyl pills were seized for the entire year. A lot of these drugs eventually make their way to the East Coast and even to the streets of Jacksonville. (714) 834-3600. jQuery( document ).ready(function() { (Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images). With fentanyl in an estimated 40 percent of street drugs, its not a matter of if but when someone you know and love dies from fentanyl, Spitzer said in his statement. Also in response to the surge of fentanyl-related deaths, local prosecutors in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties have begun charging drug dealers with murder. Suspect throws drugs out car during Westminster chase, police say. If convicted on all charges, they face a maximum sentence of 37 years and four months in prison. Plus 800 pounds of Meth and 190 pounds of cocaine. Six months before the transaction that led to the teens death, Wilkinson allegedly possessed distribution quantities of several types of narcotics, including nearly 1,400 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. DURABOX double lined solid fibreboard will protect your goods from dust, humidity and corrosion. All box sizes also offer an optional lid and DURABOX labels. Klein pleaded not guilty April 15 and was ordered to stand trial on June 7. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. He went on to say that fentanyl is in an estimated 40% of street drugs. With double-lined 2.1mm solid fibreboard construction, you can count on the superior quality and lifespan of all our DURABOX products. Millions of unsuspecting people have the grim reaper looking over their shoulder and they have no idea how close they actually are to dying from taking a single pill, District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. Copyright 2023 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. The second is that narcotics dealers face severe consequences in federal court when the distribution of their products results in a fatal overdose.. I believe it was around 15,000 pounds, Dubet said. The arrests were announced on Friday, June 10, 2022. On Feb. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), 2 Buena Park men charged in drug bust thats among biggest in OC history, LA County reaches $28.85 million settlement with Kobe Bryants family, With soaring mountains steep in snow, heres how to avoid an avalanche, Orange County Sheriffs deputies foil attempted jail escape, Escorts up Highways 18, 330 begin for San Bernardino Mountains residents, Local leaders and law enforcement officials have identified the fentanyl epidemic as Orange Countys most significant long-term health crisis,. Law enforcement officials declined to release any further details about the drug bust or why they pulled over that vehicle. Late last year, Spitzer and his counterpart in Riverside, DA Mike Hestrin, announced a new crackdown on fentanyl through policies calling for dealers who sell fetanyl-laced drugs to face murder charges. Dr. Anthony Cardillo, CEO of Mend Urgent Care, told Eyewitness News that physicians are very careful about prescribing fentanyl for patients who need pain control. Need more information or looking for a custom solution? WebAccording to that release, Orange County saw a 1,000% increase in fentanyl-related deaths over the last five years due to the drug being disguised and sold as less potent substances. Dubet says Mexican drug cartels are flooding the U.S. with fentanyl to keep up with the demand by drug users as well as to get potentially new customers. We have to continue to do everything we can to combat with deadly drug epidemic and save lives," said Spitzer. Saavedra has covered the Los Angeles riots, the O.J. Its done wonders for our storerooms., The sales staff were excellent and the delivery prompt- It was a pleasure doing business with KrossTech., Thank-you for your prompt and efficient service, it was greatly appreciated and will give me confidence in purchasing a product from your company again., TO RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE DEALS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. WebBig Bust Two Men Nabbed with Enough Fentanyl To Kill 4.7 Mil People 29.6K 4/6/2022 2:18 PM PT Orange Co. District Attorney Two men have been hit with several felony charges in Levels at 500 micrograms or higher are used for anesthetic purposes and if someone were to take 2 milligrams, it "would certainly be lethal," he said. Local leaders and law enforcement officials have identified the fentanyl epidemic as Orange Countys most significant long-term health crisis, as Sheriff Don Barnes described it during a public hearing earlier this year. Buena Park police recovered 821 pounds of methamphetamine, 189.7 pounds of cocaine and 20.5 pounds of fentanyl pills in a traffic stop of a minivan on March 17, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Lamas and Raygozaparedes also face two felony enhancements due to one substance exceeding 80 kilograms in weight and two enhancements for another exceeding 20 kilograms and 400 liters by liquid volume. Send me email updates and offers from TMZ and its Affiliates. They face a maximum of 37 years and four months in prison. Klein allegedly sold fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills to the victim in February 2021. Upon investigating, officers learned that the suspects were allegedly shipping fentanyl out of the country, and additional charges are pending, police said. "It's not a matter of if but when someone you know and love dies from fentanyl. Under the new policy, prosecutors are seeking to have an admonishment added to plea deals requiring dealers to acknowledge that fentanyl is in street drugs and can be deadly. The bust marked Orange Countys largest drug bust in 16 years, the district attorneys office said in a press release. Then, the prosecutors say, if a dealer is involved in another fentanyl sale that results in death, second-degree murder charges could be filed. By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. If convicted, each faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a potential sentence of life without parole. WebIRVINE (CBSLA) Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Department got more than they bargained for during a Wednesday afternoon traffic stop in Irvine. Fentanyl is cheap, its easy to get and it is killing our children, our coworkers, and tens of thousands of innocent Americans who dont have to die. Since the start of the Overdose Justice program in 2018, the DEA has worked with local police agencies to obtain about three dozen federal indictments charging defendants with death resulting from narcotics trafficking. Tuesday, April 5, 2022. After police officers pulled over a minivan in Buena Park on March 17, they found 20.5 pounds of fentanyl pills, 189.7 pounds of cocaine and 821 pounds of meth, officials said. EMBED <> More Videos 15,000 'rainbow' fentanyl pills seized during Orange County drug bust. Edgar Alfonso Lamaslopez, 36, and Carlos Raygozaparedes, 53, were charged March 21 with multiple felonies, and the pair pleaded not guilty that same day. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. And fentanyl is much cheaper and more potent than drugs such as heroin and morphine. Hurley, who has been ordered detained without bond, is scheduled to stand trial on Sept. 27. Both men are scheduled to return to court on June 7. Raygozaparedes and Lamas are also charged with two felony enhancements that the controlled substances exceeded 80 kilograms by weight and two felony enhancements that the controlled substances exceeded 20 kilograms by weight or 400 liters by liquid volume. Choose from more than 150 sizes and divider configurations in the DURABOX range. SANTA ANA, Calif. (KGO) -- Prosecutors have charged two men 300 North Flower Street WebApril 3, 2022 In the last two months alone, there have been at least seven confirmed mass overdose events tied to fentanyl across the U.S. resulting in 58 overdoses and 29 deaths, Drug dealers dont care about you or your loved ones they only care about their bottom line and making as much money as possible. WebFBI Cleveland Cartel Gang Narcotics & Laundering Task Force Announces Seizure of 88 Pounds of Drugs Valued at $5.2 Million and the Arrest of Two Drug Trafficking The News4JAX Morning Show team brings you breaking news from overnight -- local, national and international stories, as well as weather and traffic to start your day. WebLocally, the number of fentanyl related deaths in Orange County grew from 36 in 2016 to 636 in 2021, a 1600 percent increase, according to county statistics. The indictment further alleges that Fender committed the federal offense after he was convicted of a drug-trafficking crime in Orange County Superior Court in 2013. Six have been arrested and one is a fugitive. A total of 19 suspects were indicted. Copyright 2023 by City News Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Protect your important stock items, parts or products from dust, humidity and corrosion in an Australian-made DURABOX. They have pled not guilty and remain in custody in lieu of $5 million bail. Just weeks before the seizure, DEA agents in California seized 3 kilos of fentanyl powder. "With fentanyl in an estimated 40 percent of street drugs, it's not a matter of if but when someone you know and love dies from fentanyl. WebPUBLISHED: April 22, 2022 at 3:08 p.m. | UPDATED: April 22, 2022 at 4:52 p.m. Federal charges carrying the potential for life in prison have been filed against suspected drug Buena Park officers recovered 821 pounds of methamphetamine, 189.7 pounds of cocaine and 20.5 pounds of fentanyl pills during the March 17 bust, according to a statement from the DAs office. Buena Park drug bust: 20 pounds of fentanyl, nearly 200 pounds of cocaine and over 800 pounds of meth were found, officials said officials said. Edgar Alfonzo Lamas, 36, and Carlos Raygozaparedes, 53, both have been charged with multiple felonies counts related to the bust including possession and transportation for sale of a controlled substance as well as sentencing enhancements tied to the amount of drugs allegedly found. The victim purchased the pills in June 2021 after responding to an advertisement Wilkinson posted on Snapchat, the investigation revealed. The defendants in the latest widespread drug investigation are: Intelligence and information gathered from narcotics operations, such as this one, helps to solve other crimes and is a key component in our overall criminal justice strategy, said District Attorney Hoovler. Award-winning broadcast and multimedia journalist with 20 years experience. WebSANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Two alleged drug dealers were behind bars Wednesday after what Orange County authorities described as the largest drug bust in the past 16 years. WebImages from the Orange County District Attorney's office show a large drug seizure made on March 17, 2022. The seizure occurred when after an officer on patrol stopped a vehicle after seeing the driver and passenger exit it and litter, police said. It takes just 2 milligrams of fentanyl to be a lethal dose. Multiple charges have been filed against the two alleged drug Over the course of the past several months, according to Hoovler, undercover investigators purchased quantities of narcotics including crack and heroin, from individuals in and around the City of Newburgh and the Town of Wallkill. These cases highlight two important lessons, with the first being that many street drugs are contaminated with an extremely powerful opioid that often leads to death, United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison said. Massive quantities of fentanyl, meth, cocaine seized in OC's - A lethal dose of fentanyl is as little as 2 milligrams; authorities recovered 20.5 pounds. }); 2022 Orange County District Attorney. His work has been recognized by the National Headliner Club, the Associated Press Sports Editors, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association and the Orange County Press Club. In November 2021, Spitzer announced his office could charge convicted drug dealers with murder if the drugs they manufactured or distributed to people led to death, according to KTLA. The DEA and the Orange County Sheriffs Department are investigating this case, to be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marrett. WebHUNTINGTON BEACH, CA Authorities in Huntington Beach this month conducted a drug trafficking bust that led to two arrests and the seizure of an estimated $3.5 million worth Sign up to receive exclusive deals and announcements, Fantastic service, really appreciate it. They say this is Orange County's largest drug bust in 16 years. DA Spokeswoman Kimberly Edds said that based on the combined amount of drugs seized, the Buena Park bust is the largest one in Orange County in the past 16 years. KROSSTECH is proud to partner with DURABOX to bring you an enormous range of storage solutions in more than 150 sizes and combinations to suit all of your storage needs. jQuery( "#gtranslate_wrapper" ).appendTo( jQuery( ".headerTranslate" ) ); We have to continue to do everything we can to combat this deadly drug epidemic and save lives.. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer Announces Countywide Anti-Fentanyl Ad Campaign on OCTA Buses - Fentanyl deaths have increased 1,000% in Orange County over the last five years; drug dealers can face murder charges if someone dies from fentanyl poisoning, Fullerton Man Charged with Possessing Enough Fentanyl to Kill 12 Million People. Fentanyl does not discriminate and its affecting every community, ethnicity and generation throughout our country.. Anthony Bernard Fender, 31, of Tustin was arrested Monday on a grand jury indictment filed last week alleging he sold fentanyl powder that resulted in the death of a 40-year-old man. 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