DEA seizes $1.6 million in drug proceeds and over 2,000 pounds of drugs, 4 California men arrested

Four Los Angeles County men were arrested on suspicion of trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl powder and fake fentanyl pills, which authorities say were kept at a safehouse in Compton, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The men, 27-year-old Jesse Lopez-Martinez of Long Beach, 32-year-old Carlos Mendoza Jr. of Compton, 25-year-old Hector Merced Parra Jr. of South Gate and 28-year-old Juan Francisco Felix Salazar of Whittier, were named in a federal indictment, authorities said Monday.

The men used Snapchat and FaceTime to discuss drug activities in coded terms with a buyer, who was actually a confidential informant, and conducted some “drug activities,” including giving drugs to the informant, at a restaurant in Paramount, according to the indictment.

During the investigation, 2,225 pounds of drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine and powder fentanyl were seized by agents from the DEA’s Los Angeles division.

Agents also recovered $1,642,371 in drug proceeds, 360,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills, 13 firearms and seven vehicles.

The men were arrested on May 28 and pleaded not guilty. A trial is scheduled for July 21. If convicted on all charges, all four men will face a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

All four men have been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Some of the defendants face further charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, or of possessing of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime or being a felon in possession of a firearm.