Seven people have been arrested – many from the East Bay – on drug trafficking charges in an operation authorities believe led to the largest-ever seizure of fentanyl in the Northern District of California.
Two simultaneous complaints filed on Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office describe a wiretap investigation monitoring fentanyl distribution by an organization called "Castro DTO," which kept drugs in stash houses in Oakland and San Leandro. The distribution chain fed to additional stash houses throughout the Bay Area in San Francisco, Concord, Oakland and beyond.
Castro Banegas-Medina, 39, conspired with Elmer Rosales-Montes, 28, and Jose Ivan Cruz-Caceres, 31, to distribute fentanyl to numerous dealers who then circulated the drugs to others, the complaint alleged. The dealers charged are Jihad Jad Tawasha, 34, William Joseph Laughren, 25, and Heather Borges, 33.
In a second complaint, authorities said that Keny Alduvi Romero-Lopez, 23, and Castro intended to distribute over one-half kilogram of fentanyl.
The defendants live in Oakland, San Leandro, Alameda and Tracy, as well as Oregon.
In executing search warrants at Castro DTO stash houses on May 25, investigators discovered about 19 kilograms of fentanyl hidden in fence posts around the property. They also found $36,000 in cash and dyes used to color the fentanyl prior to distribution, which allegedly denotes the strength of the particular drug.
In all, Castro DTO filled over 100 orders for fentanyl between April 21 and May 19, the complaint said. They allegedly discussed feeling to Honduras if necessary, part of conversations recorded on the wiretaps.
Castro, Rosales-Montes and Cruz-Caceres are charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. If convicted, they face a maximum prison term of 40 years, with a mandatory minimum of 5 years.
Laughren is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and faces a maximum prison term of 20 years.
Tawasha, Romero-Lopez and Borges are charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. If convicted, each faces a maximum prison term of 40 years, with a mandatory minimum of 5 years.
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