Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Donis Ariel Maldonado, also known as Donis Maldonado Reyes or "Danny," has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison. The Guatemalan national, residing in El Monte, was found guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess heroin and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith made the announcement.
Court documents revealed that Maldonado collaborated with others to distribute 22 pounds of black tar heroin and 88 pounds of methamphetamine, both sourced from Mexico. On June 23, 2019, he retrieved these drugs from San Diego and transported them to El Monte. The following day, he delivered the substances to an informant at a convenience store in El Monte. These drugs were valued at $300,000.
The investigation leading to Maldonado's conviction involved multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Fresno County Sheriff's Office, and the High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT). HIIT is part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative (HIDTA) comprising personnel from several California law enforcement agencies.
Assistant United States Attorney Karen Escobar prosecuted the case under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF focuses on identifying and dismantling major criminal organizations through a multi-agency approach driven by intelligence and led by prosecutors.
For further details about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
