Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
A federal grand jury has indicted three individuals on charges of drug trafficking conspiracy, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith. Alfredo Alvarez Sanchez, 37, and Raul Munoz Navarro, 54, both from Mexico, were apprehended on December 11, 2024. Inosencio Cruz, 35, from Visalia, was taken into custody on March 11, 2025.
Court documents reveal that a coordinated law enforcement operation on May 17, 2023, resulted in the seizure of nearly 1,000 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and the discovery of two active methamphetamine conversion labs. These operations involved searches at five properties located in Tulare, Earlimart, and Corcoran. The labs contained numerous drums filled with liquid methamphetamine in various stages of conversion.
Further enforcement actions led to additional seizures including significant quantities of methamphetamine and firearms intended for distribution in California’s Central Valley. Notable seizures include:
- November 30, 2023: Seizure of 150 pounds of methamphetamine.
- February 24, 2024: Confiscation of 200 pounds of methamphetamine.
- March 20, 2024: Seizure of 25 pounds of methamphetamine and four pounds of marijuana.
Additionally, law enforcement recovered eleven firearms from an individual attempting to conceal them after the March seizure.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration and several local sheriff's offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is leading the prosecution.
If convicted, the defendants face a minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment and could receive up to life imprisonment along with a fine reaching $10 million. Sentencing will be determined by the court considering statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. It is important to note that these charges are allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case falls under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which targets high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States through a multi-agency approach. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OCDETF.
