Salvador Vega Rendon Jr., a 33-year-old resident of Turlock, was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison on Monday. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley after Rendon was convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
Court documents state that the incident occurred on November 29, 2020, in Stanislaus County. Rendon was reportedly driving under the influence when he crashed his vehicle into a parked car. Witnesses saw him remove an ice chest and several suitcases and bags from his vehicle, placing them on the side of the road and near a nearby property.
Law enforcement officers responded to the scene and apprehended Rendon. A search revealed that the ice chest, bags, suitcases, and his vehicle contained over 10 kilograms of methamphetamine, 7,000 pills containing fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, LSD, marijuana, firearms, and body armor. Authorities noted that three out of four firearms found were equipped with devices allowing them to operate as fully automatic weapons.
The investigation involved cooperation between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly A. Sanchez and Michael G. Tierney prosecuted the case.
“This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly A. Sanchez and Michael G. Tierney prosecuted the case.”
