SANTA ANA, California – A federal grand jury today returned an indictment that charges a Santa Ana man with possessing significant quantities of narcotics – including the extremely potent synthetic opioid fentanyl – that he intended to distribute.
Guillermo Ernesto Sanchez Hermosillo, 41, of Santa Ana, who is currently in custody in an Orange County jail on state charges, was named in a five-count indictment.
After receiving information that Hermosillo was engaging in drug-trafficking activities, officers with the Huntington Beach Police Department and an ATF special agent went to Hermosillo’s apartment on July 31 to conduct a probation compliance check. Hermosillo was on probation after sustaining a conviction in a domestic violence case in March.
Inside a closet in a bedroom, the law enforcement officers discovered 2,722 grams of methamphetamine, 1,992 grams of heroin, and 891 grams of fentanyl. At the time of the search, there were three minors in the apartment, including a 3-week-old baby.
In addition to the narcotics that were wrapped in plastic, authorities seized a .45-caliber Glock handgun and eight rounds of ammunition.
Hermosillo was taken into local custody following the discovery of the narcotics and the firearm.
Today’s indictment charges Hermosillo with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Because of the quantities of narcotics involved, each of the three drug-trafficking charges carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, and a potential life sentence. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime carries a mandatory, five-year consecutive sentence to any sentence imposed for the narcotics offenses. The charge of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm carries a maximum possible penalty of 10 years in prison.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Huntington Beach Police Department.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anne C. Gannon of the Santa Ana Branch Office.
