On Friday, January 2, at approximately 11:30 p.m., North Orange County SET Deputies conducted a probation check at a residence in an unincorporated area of Anaheim.
During the search, deputies located approximately 40 grams of fentanyl, 60 grams of methamphetamine, along with a digital scale, 200 plastic baggies, and three cell phones.
Unincorporated Anaheim Areas
The primary unincorporated areas adjacent to the City of Anaheim are collectively known as Anaheim Island (also called Anaheim West, Southwest Anaheim, and Garza Island). These areas are “county islands,” meaning they are surrounded by incorporated cities but are not officially part of any municipality.
Key Unincorporated Areas
These neighborhoods are located in northwestern Orange County and are bounded by the cities of Anaheim, Stanton, and Garden Grove. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department provides police services, while the Anaheim Fire Department provides fire protection through an agreement.
Specific neighborhoods within the Anaheim Island area include:
- La Colonia Independencia: One of the oldest surviving Mexican American neighborhoods in Orange County, historically a “citrus camp” for farm workers.
- Sherwood Forest and Thistle development: Residential areas built in the mid-1950s, located between Brookhurst and Gilbert Streets, and Orange Avenue and Ball Road.
- West Island: An area bordered by Ball Road to the north and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks to the south.
- Southwest Anaheim: A neighborhood of 171 homes near the corner of Katella Avenue and Gilbert Street.
- Other smaller areas: These include Rustic Lane and Mac Island.
Value of the Seized Illegal Narcotics
Based on recent 2025 and 2026 data for illicit drug pricing in California, the estimated street value of the narcotics seized in Anaheim is approximately $3,200 to $10,400.
Law enforcement and harm reduction reports indicate the following price ranges for the specific quantities found:
- Fentanyl (40 grams): Valued between $2,000 and $8,000.
- Street prices for fentanyl powder in California typically range from $50 to $200 per gram.
- While bulk/wholesale prices can drop as low as $40 per gram in some regions, street-level sales broken down into smaller increments command the higher end of the range.
- Methamphetamine (60 grams): Valued between $1,200 and $2,400.
- The average price for a gram of methamphetamine on the street in Southern California is approximately $20 to $40.
- Law enforcement estimations sometimes use significantly higher “broken down” values, but market data for users and outreach groups consistently reflects this lower range.
Context on Seizure Scale
- Dose Potential: 40 grams of fentanyl is equivalent to roughly 20,000 lethal doses (based on a 2mg lethal threshold).
- Packaging: The presence of 200 baggies suggests the suspect intended to distribute these drugs in “retail” quantities (e.g., 0.25g to 0.5g per bag), which maximizes the total street value compared to a single bulk sale.
Penalties faced by the suspect
As of 2026, the potential penalties include:
1. New Felony Drug Charges
- Fentanyl Possession for Sale (HS 11351): Because fentanyl is a Schedule II narcotic, possession for sale is a straight felony. It is punishable by 2, 3, or 4 years in county jail and fines up to $20,000.
- Methamphetamine Possession for Sale (HS 11378): This is a felony punishable by 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail and fines up to $10,000.
2. Probation Violation Consequences
Since the suspect was already on probation, this new arrest triggers a Probation Revocation Hearing.
- Revocation of Probation: The judge can revoke probation and order the suspect to serve the entire original sentence that was previously suspended.
- Ineligibility for Diversion: Because the charges involve “intent to sell” (evidenced by the scale and baggies), the suspect is generally ineligible for drug diversion programs like Prop 36 or PC 1000 that allow for treatment instead of jail.
3. Aggravating Factors and 2026 Enhancements
- Fentanyl Weight Enhancements: California law significantly increased penalties for fentanyl trafficking effective in 2024 and 2025. While 40 grams is below the major multi-kilogram weight enhancements (which start at 1 kg), any prior fentanyl-related convictions could lead to mandatory minimum jail terms of 180 days to 1 year.
- Drug Offender Registration: A conviction for possession for sale requires mandatory registration as a drug offender with local law enforcement.
- Immigration Consequences: If the suspect is not a U.S. citizen, these specific felony drug convictions are considered “aggravated felonies” and typically lead to mandatory deportation.