Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Ramon Maldonado Jr., a 33-year-old resident of Bakersfield, has entered a guilty plea for charges of possessing drugs with the intent to distribute, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant on August 10, 2023, at a residence in Bakersfield identified as a stash house. The location was also used for selling psychedelic drugs and marijuana. During the search, officers discovered various illegal substances and a stolen firearm. Maldonado was found in one room with several drugs, including psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, and heroin, as well as a Ruger .22-caliber rifle. Additional fentanyl was discovered in another room, and methamphetamine was found in the kitchen.
Authorities seized 5.5 pounds of fentanyl, 25.9 pounds of psilocybin, 23.4 pounds of marijuana, 20 ounces of heroin, and 1.15 ounces of methamphetamine.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Kern County Probation Office Gang Unit and Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is leading the prosecution.
Maldonado's sentencing is scheduled for August 4, 2025, with U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston presiding. Maldonado could face a minimum of 10 years to life in prison and up to a $10 million fine. The final sentence will be determined by the court, following statutory guidelines and federal sentencing criteria.
This case was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) effort, which targets high-level criminal organizations using a collaborative and intelligence-driven approach. Further information is available at Justice.gov/OCDETF.
