Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Jose Miguel Perez, a 42-year-old resident of Corona, has entered a guilty plea for trafficking cocaine and heroin. This development was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
The charges stem from an incident where Perez was stopped by law enforcement on Interstate 5 in Fresno County. Officers discovered 56 kilograms of various narcotics concealed within two hidden compartments in his vehicle. Specifically, seven kilograms of cocaine were found in the car's ceiling, while another compartment in the roof contained 37 kilograms of cocaine, 10 kilograms of heroin, and two kilograms of ketamine.
This case resulted from collaborative efforts between the Fresno County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is leading the prosecution.
Perez's sentencing is set for June 23, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and could potentially receive a life sentence. The final decision will be influenced by statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
