A criminal complaint filed this week by the Office of the United States Attorney alleges that the executive director of the San Jose Police Officers’ Association (SJPOA) was involved in a scheme to traffic synthetic opioids.
According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, 64-year-old Joanne Marian Segovia “used her personal and office computers to order thousands of opioid and other pills to her home and agreed to distribute the drugs elsewhere in the United States.”
Segovia was apprehended as part of an ongoing Homeland Security investigation of a network that allegedly ships controlled substances to the San Francisco Bay area from abroad. Per the complaint, officials intercepted and opened five shipments sent to Segovia’s home that contained thousands of pills containing controlled substances, such as synthetic opioids Tramadol and Tapentadol.
“Certain parcels were valued at thousands of dollars’ worth of drugs,” said the DOJ.
Overdose deaths related to synthetic opioids – opioids created in a laboratory setting – have increased in recent years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“In 2020, more than 56,000 deaths involving synthetic opioids (other than methadone) occurred in the United States, which is more deaths than from any other type of opioid,” said the CDC. “Synthetic opioid-involved death rates increased by over 56% from 2019 to 2020 and accounted for over 82% of all opioid-involved deaths in 2020. The rate of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids was more than 18 times higher in 2020 than in 2013.”
Earlier this month, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a warning about a new mix containing synthetic opioids that could potentially rot users’ flesh.
The complaint also alleges that Segovia had at least 61 shipments mailed to her home, with labels such as “Wedding Party Favors.” Authorities said that the places where these packages originated from include Hong Kong, Hungary, India and Singapore.
To plan the drug shipments, Segovia allegedly used encrypted WhatsApp communications. From Jan. 2020 to March 2013, she exchanged hundreds of messages with someone using a phone with an India country code, the complaint alleges. Hundreds of photos of tablets, shipping labels, packaging, payment receipts and confirmations are included in the messages, it said.
Once in possession of the drugs, Segovia allegedly used her office at the SJPOA to distribute the controlled substances.
“For example, in spring 2021, Segovia was told by a supplier to send a package to a woman in North Carolina,” the DOJ said. “Segovia then sent this supplier a photograph of a shipment made using the UPS account of San Jose Police Officers’ Association.”
This February, Segovia was interviewed by federal investigators. According to the DOJ, she continued to order shipments of controlled substances afterwards.
“On March 13, 2023, federal agents seized a parcel in Kentucky, containing valeryl fentanyl, addressed to Segovia,” said the department.
“The package allegedly originated from China on March 10, 2023 and declared its contents as a ‘clock.’”
Segovia has been charged with an attempt to unlawfully import valeryl fentanyl.
Since criminal complaints merely allege crimes, Segovia is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Tartakovsky is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Margoth Turcios.
If she is ultimately convicted, the SJPOA leader could face a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years.
“In addition, as part of any sentence, the court may order the defendant to serve at least [three] years of supervised release and to pay a fine of up to $250,000,” said the DOJ.
Related
Related
