U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert | U.S. Department of Justice
Fernando Castro Bazan, a 33-year-old resident of El Monte, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his leadership role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta, as announced by United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
Court documents reveal that Castro Bazan sold and attempted to sell methamphetamine to an undercover officer on three occasions. On July 15, 2021, he sent a courier from Los Angeles to Roseville with 20 pounds of methamphetamine for delivery to the officer. On August 12, another courier delivered five pounds of the drug under his direction. In September of the same year, he promised an additional sale of 30 pounds but was intercepted when law enforcement seized 31 pounds from his stash house following a search warrant.
While awaiting trial for this case, Castro Bazan faced arrest on June 30, 2022, related to a separate federal case in San Diego. This involved his recruitment of drivers for transporting drugs for a Tijuana-based trafficking organization using his connections as a club promoter and musician. He enticed young drivers with promises of easy money and trips to Mexico; many were arrested at the border and now have federal felony convictions.
In May 2024, Castro Bazan pleaded guilty in San Diego to charges of conspiracy and importation of methamphetamine into the United States and received a sentence of 12 years in prison there before being transferred back to face sentencing in Sacramento.
The investigation leading to these convictions was conducted by several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team with assistance from other local law enforcement groups.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella handled the prosecution.
