Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
A federal grand jury has indicted three men for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in Madera County, California. Jesus Valdez Castaneda, 28, from San Bernardino; Carlos German Fierro, 29, from Caruthers; and Alejandro Soto Mares, 43, from Mexico are facing charges related to the distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents, the defendants planned to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl. The men allegedly arranged a deal to sell 150,000 fentanyl pills in a strip mall parking lot in Madera on February 21, 2025. Castaneda and Soto Mares reportedly met with a co-conspirator at the location before Fierro and two others arrived with the pills.
The transaction was interrupted when officers arrested the men after they went into a nearby Panda Express restaurant. Authorities seized the pills and two firearms during the operation.
This case resulted from an investigation by the High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), which includes personnel from several law enforcement agencies such as the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Arin C. Heinz and Cody S. Chapple are handling the prosecution.
The defendants are currently detained awaiting trial. If convicted, they face severe penalties including a minimum of ten years to life imprisonment and fines up to $10 million for drug charges. Fierro faces additional penalties for firearm possession related to drug trafficking. The final sentences will be determined by the court based on various statutory factors and guidelines.
"The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
