Three men have been found guilty of running a Northern California drug empire that peddled heroin, fentanyl, meth, and cocaine sourced from Mexico, the US Attorney's Office announced. Following an eight-day trial, Luis Torres Garcia, Evan Martinez Diaz, and Timothy Peoples were convicted on all charges by a federal jury on February 14 after a brief deliberation lasting two hours.
During the trial, presided by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg, the evidence presented included intercepted calls from a federal wiretap investigation between April 2018 and February 2019, pinpointing the defendants' drug supplies from across the border. According to the Justice Department, the seizures involved staggering amounts, including 8.8 pounds of mixed fentanyl and heroin and a cash haul in excess of $300,000 tied to the drug operations. After fleeing before the jury's verdict, Torres Garcia has been marked as a fugitive.
As detailed by the prosecutors, Torres Garcia, dubbed as "Guero" and a Humboldt County trafficker, managed to lighten his operation using credit meth shipments from a Fairfield supplier. Acting on a tip-off, DEA agents and the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office intercepted an 18-pound meth drop meant for him, valued at $158,000, on a California highway. Then absconded Torres Garcia before the jury concluded, having also been caught red-handed during a cash delivery for his shady dealings.
Martinez Diaz's criminal acts included a chaotic chase through Antioch, where he tossed 20 pounds of meth and a kilo of coke, figuring $217,860 in street value, into the bushes to dodge the law's grip. Even after police had him cornered and issued just a traffic citation, he was recklessly caught in a call informing his supplier of the drugs ditched. Peoples' arrest came subsequent to finding cocaine in his home, revealing his role in a larger network where he bought and sold "babies" – a codename for ounces of cocaine, to turn profits for luxury cars.
Eyeing life in prison with a minimum sentence of ten years, Torres Garcia is due for sentencing on June 11, alongside Martinez Diaz and Peoples, who both face up to 20 years for each count. According to a statement obtained by the Justice Department, the sentences will reflect federal guidelines and statutes. The investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force effort, aiming to break the backbone of high-level drug trafficking and criminal organizations.
