A federal grand jury issued a six-count indictment against two Californians, Cruz Tinajero of Napa and Ashan Naeem of Stockton, on charges related to fentanyl distribution and illegal firearms possession, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced recently. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, the pair allegedly conspired to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl between April and November of 2024, and they were also found in possession of an AR-15 style rifle lacking a serial number.
The extensive investigation that apprehended Tinajero and Naeem involved several agencies, notably Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, along with local agencies like the San Joaquin County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force and Stockton’s own High Intensity Narcotics Enforcement team. This case falls under the purview of Operation Take Back America, an initiative committed to combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels, and targeting violent criminal organizations.
The charges leveled against Tinajero and Naeem carry serious weight, with minimum sentences starting at 10 years and reaching up to life in prison, including fines that could swell to $10 million. However, these are only charges; the defendants maintain their presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura, whose role in securing the indictment underscores the concerted effort put forth by the Justice Department…