– by Jim Emerson
OAKLAND, CA — A man with a jail record faces new charges in connection with smuggling drugs into Alameda County Santa Rita Jail. Dominic J. Lucero, 47, of Oakland, was arrested earlier this month and booked at the county jail. Lucero remains behind bars in lieu of $410,000 bond, pending a plea hearing on June 24.
Investigators believe Lucero mailed a greeting card addressed to an inmate last year, which contained methamphetamine. The card was intercepted when it triggered a response from a specially trained police dog.
Months of investigation followed. The Alameda County Narcotics Task Force obtained a warrant to search Lucero’s residence, where a large quantity of illicit drugs were found on June 3. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office arrested Lucero the same day.
A prepared statement from the sheriff’s office said investigators recovered:
- Methamphetamine 232 grams
- Fentanyl 41 grams
- Cocaine 24.9 grams
- Heroin 2.7 grams
Investigators also found and recovered a spray bottle containing methamphetamine, three firearms, and $4,300 in cash. One of the firearms is linked to criminal case in Colorado.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office filed multiple counts of the following charges against Lucero for –
* Transportation of a controlled substance
* Possession of a controlled substance with a firearm
* Possession of a controlled substance for sale
* Possession of a large quantity of contraband
Lucero has multiple prior arrests and convictions on his record. He has prior convictions for burglary, grand theft, robbery, vehicle thefts, and possession of a controlled substance.
