Two convicted after deputies find 50 pounds of meth in I-5 traffic stop near Lebec: DA

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — Two men were convicted on Monday on multiple charges relating to the transportation of around 50 pounds of methamphetamine discovered in a traffic stop on Interstate 5 near Lebec, announced the Kern County District Attorney.

On April 27, 2026, a Kern County jury found David Mendoza and Ismael Gonzalez Jr. each guilty of one count of possession for sale of a controlled substance, one count of transportation for sale of a controlled substance, and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime. The jury also found true that the substance possessed by the men contained methamphetamine, which was over 20 kilograms.

The case dates back to Jan. 5, 2026, at around 4 p.m., when deputies pulled over the defendants’ vehicle on southbound Interstate 5 near Lebec. Deputies said they saw the driver commit several vehicle code violations, including illegal window tint, an illegal lane change, and an invalid license plate…

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