Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
A federal grand jury has indicted David Joseph Yama, a 41-year-old resident of Reedley, on additional charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. Yama is now facing charges of possession of alprazolam with intent to distribute, three counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition, and carrying a firearm in connection to a drug trafficking offense.
The original indictment already charged Yama with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. As detailed in court documents, the investigation began on September 1, 2020, when police investigated suspicious activity at a gas station in Clovis and found Yama with two others. Inside the car Yama was driving, law enforcement discovered cash, ammunition, fentanyl, alprazolam pills, and other drug-related items. A subsequent search of Yama’s residence revealed more substances and ammunition. In January 2021, authorities again found Yama in the same car, which contained alprazolam pills, ammunition, and a ghost gun. Yama is prohibited from possessing firearms due to past felony convictions for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
This case results from efforts by several agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and various police departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Karen A. Escobar are handling the prosecution.
If convicted, Yama faces severe penalties. For drug-trafficking charges, the potential maximum sentence includes 20 years in prison and fines up to $1 million per count. For the weapon-related charge, a mandatory consecutive five-year penalty and potential life sentence apply. The court will decide actual penalties at a later date, considering statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. All charges are allegations at this stage, and Yama remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a Justice Department initiative targeting synthetic opioid distribution across key areas, launched in July 2018. It is also part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, aiming to reduce violent crime through community-based strategies and partnerships.
