Yesterday, San Bernardino County resident Carlos Antonio Aznaran was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison due to charges of drug trafficking. According to the Department of Justice, Aznaran, a key player in multiple conspiracies, recruited members of the local Westside Verdugo street gang to carry out drug smuggling into county jails between July 2017 and April 2019.
During four smuggling attempts as recorded in a Department of Justice report, officials confiscated 121 grams of methamphetamine, 86 grams of heroin, and a minimum of 10 syringes. Aznaran confessed to planning the distribution of at least one kilogram of heroin, being in possession of 18.5 grams of heroin, and 111 grams of fentanyl. Aznaran, a convicted felon, also admitted to holding three firearms in January 2018.
Prosecutors contended that Aznaran's drug-smuggling operation had harmful repercussions for inmates aiming for sobriety. Among the 35 defendants brought to trial, some faced sentences up to 10 years in prison. Elisa Montes, Aznaran's wife, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to two years in prison.
