A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment against four Sacramento residents on July 24, charging them with multiple counts of distributing controlled substances, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
Balentin Quintero, age 27, was charged with one count of distribution of cocaine and four counts of distribution of fentanyl. Francisco Chavez, age 39, was charged with one count of distribution of cocaine, two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and three counts of distribution of fentanyl. Steven Ortega, age 44, was charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Tavarius Montgomery, age 41, was charged with two counts of distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents cited in the indictment, between January and June 2026 Quintero, Chavez, Ortega, and Montgomery sold controlled substances to a confidential source and an undercover agent eight times. On May 1 Chavez agreed to sell the undercover agent one ounce of fentanyl; after meeting Steven Ortega for the supply transfer, Chavez sold the substance for $900. On June 8 Quintero agreed to sell three ounces; during that transaction Chavez obtained fentanyl from Montgomery before delivering it through Quintero for $3,300.
On July 14 Ortega was found in possession of multiple firearms despite prior felony convictions in Sacramento County, including previous offenses related to controlled substances as well as violent crimes such as battery causing serious bodily injury and assault with a deadly weapon.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation while Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole M. Vanek is prosecuting the case. If convicted on methamphetamine charges, Chavez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to life imprisonment along with fines up to $10 million; those convicted for distributing fentanyl face at least five years’ imprisonment plus fines up to $5 million except Ortega, who faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment and fines up to $1 million for that charge alone. The firearm offense carries a maximum penalty for Ortega at fifteen years’ imprisonment plus fines up to $250,000.
Any sentences will be determined by the court after consideration under applicable statutory factors and federal Sentencing Guidelines; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District operates under the Department of Justice across more than 87,000 square miles covering thirty-four counties from Oregon’s border southward through Bakersfield eastward toward Nevada while promoting community wellness through enforcement actions involving criminal prosecutions or civil lawsuits on behalf of the government.