A Chula Vista Man was sentenced on Dec.1 to nearly six years in federal prison for the distribution of over 100 pounds of fentanyl and other drugs.
Earlier this year, Ernesto Renteria, 45 plead guilty to four counts related to the possession of drugs with the intent to distribute. He was sentenced to a 71- month prison term.
“Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous drug that is destroying lives and families in our community and across the nation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman. “Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute those responsible for distributing this poison and profiting from the opioid epidemic.” Grossman praised the prosecution team and DEA agents for their excellent work on this case.
According to the U.S Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized 108.2 pounds of fentanyl from Renteria’s home along with smaller amounts of fentanyl analogue, cocaine, and methamphetamine. DEA Agents nationwide have seized a record-high 12,000 pounds of fentanyl this year.
Agents seized packaging materials and GPS tracking devices used to ship drugs across the United States according to his plea agreement.
“The quantity of fentanyl DEA agents seized from Ernesto Renteria is disturbing,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Shelly S. Howe. “Had DEA not seized these deadly drugs prior to distribution, many Americans could have died from a fentanyl overdose. The DEA will continue to prioritize investigations targeting fentanyl drug traffickers to fight the growing number of overdose deaths in our country.”
The chemical structure in the fentanyl analogues possessed by Renteria have a chemical structure that can be manipulated to increase potency, according to the U.S Attorney’s Office. Fentanyl analogues have been classified by the DEA as a Schedule I controlled substance since 2018. The temporary schedule expires February 2022.
