Photo: what 10 pounds of meth looks like (not from this incident)
At the end of January 2019, Francisco Alcantar-Miranda was found in an abandoned Madera home with 10 pounds of meth, 1 pound of heroin, 1 pound of cocaine, and 25 pounds of marijuana.
The bust was a collective effort by several agencies: the Madera County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Enforcement Team (MADNET), High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), and High Impact Investigation Team (HITT); agents of Homeland Security Investigations; California Department of Justice; California Highway Patrol; Fresno, Tulare, and King Counties Sheriffs’ Offices; and the Fresno Police Department.
The 31-year old from Mexico, also known as Paquin, plead guilty on Friday, February 21, 2020 to conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute meth, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.
He will surrender a handgun and approximately $18,000 in cash also found at the house, as part of the plea agreement.
Alcantar-Miranda’s charges carry a minimum 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine up to $10 million. The court, however, has the discretion of considering any statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines which may apply.
Alcantar-Miranda was not the only arrestee of the case. Oscar Rene Marrot-Garcia, 27, of Chowchilla, and Jose Monge-Ponce, 31, of Mexico, were also found at the house when the search warrant was executed. The pair will face a jury trial set to begin June 16, 2020 prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen. A. Escobar.
