Jesus Perez Garcia Jr., 25, from Arleta, has been sentenced to 19 years and seven months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
Court documents state that Garcia worked for a drug-trafficking organization based in Mexico, which brought large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl into the United States. The group was dismantled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in June 2024 during an operation called “Toxic Waste.”
Garcia was first arrested in June 2022 while attempting to smuggle 25 pounds of methamphetamine into the United States from Mexico. After being charged, he skipped bail and became a fugitive. During this time, he operated a stash house for the same drug ring between July 2023 and March 2024. He kept drugs in the United States and distributed them to others who resold them. Authorities say he trafficked more than 3,500 pounds of methamphetamine and six pounds of fentanyl before being arrested again in March 2024 while transporting methamphetamine and a firearm.
The investigation led to Garcia’s indictment along with 14 other individuals. Law enforcement seized over 12,900 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 50 pounds of fentanyl mixture, 39 pounds of cocaine, and 22 pounds of heroin as part of this case. Recorded communications revealed that the organization smuggled drugs inside portable projectors and batteries under the cover of a legitimate transportation business. They also hid large quantities inside semi-trucks and used gas tanks to transport liquid methamphetamine across the border.
Multiple agencies contributed to the investigation including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Bernardino Sheriff’s Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team, Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team, and Los Angeles Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at disrupting major criminal organizations through collaboration among several agencies using intelligence-led strategies (https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF).
The case is also linked to Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), a program started by the Justice Department in July 2018 to reduce synthetic opioid supply in high-impact areas such as the Eastern District of California.
