Five Defendants Charged In San Jose Drug Distribution Schemes

SAN FRANCISCO — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - California, Northern), published as received.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Office of the United States Attorney filed criminal complaints against Ramon Covarrubias Rangel, Jorge Lozano Guzman, Alejandro Alvarez, Kelman David De La Cruz Pedroza, and Erick Alexandro Torres Cruz for their alleged respective roles in drug distribution schemes in the San Jose area, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, and Homeland Security Investigations (NorCal) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King.  In a press conference earlier today, U.S. Attorney Anderson announced that the complaints were the culmination of one of four simultaneous federal investigations into the movement of drugs from Mexico to the streets of the San Jose area.  

“We describe in these charging documents mid-level dealers operating in a thriving and deadly local market for methamphetamine and cocaine,” said U.S. Attorney Anderson.  “The crimes and sheer lawlessness of their activity is a profound threat to individuals and neighborhoods, undermining the safety and aspirations of whole communities of law-abiding people.”

“Methamphetamine that is pure, potent and cheap has flooded the American market and drug trafficking organizations see an opportunity to profit. They utilize distribution hubs, like the Bay Area, to distribute their poison,” said Special Agent in Charge Comeaux. “As methamphetamine overdoses rise, the significant drug seizures in this investigation has undoubtedly saved lives. DEA will continue to target and to bring to justice these criminal organizations who traffic drugs in our community to keep Americans safe.”

“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to combating the illegal trafficking of  firearms and drugs that fuel violence in the United States and abroad. Our investigation of 5 locations yielded: 4 arrests, 4 guns, over 7 kg of methamphetamine and 2 kg cocaine,” said Special Agent in Charge King. “Partnerships are a key facet of HSI’s approach to countering illegal activity. We are grateful for the important contributions of or partners with the DEA, FBI, CBP, California Highway Patrol, Alameda County Narcotics Task Force, Salinas Police Department, Soledad Police Department, Gilroy Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Northern District of California.”

The drug distribution charges are contained in three separate complaints.  The first complaint, filed January 26, 2021, alleges Rangel, Lozano, and Alvarez conspired to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in the San Jose area.  According to the complaint, the DEA, HSI, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were conducting an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of these defendants when in December of 2019, investigators used confidential sources to make controlled purchases.  The complaint describes how Lozano met the confidential source in a parking lot in San Jose and sold the source one ounce of cocaine for $860 and one kilogram of methamphetamine for $3,000.  On February 26, 2020, a similar transaction occurred; however, on this occasion, confidential sources spoke with all three defendants.  Covarrubias made initial contact with the confidential source, Lozano negotiated the price, and Alvarez made the delivery in a parking lot in San Jose. On that day, a confidential source purchased an additional kilogram of methamphetamine from the defendants for $2,700.  Rangel, Lozano, and Alvarez are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(viii).  If convicted, the defendants each face a minimum 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, as well as a maximum $10,000,000 fine. 

In the second complaint, De La Cruz is charged with selling a pound of methamphetamine to a confidential source in August of 2020.  According to the complaint, after completing the transaction, De La Cruz informed the source that it would cost $34,000 for a kilogram of cocaine and that if the source needed cocaine, the source should call De La Cruz.  De La Cruz is charged with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(viii).  If convicted, De La Cruz faces a minimum 5 years and a maximum 40 years in prison as well as a maximum $5,000,000 fine. 

In addition, Torres Cruz is charged with distributing a half kilogram of methamphetamine to a confidential source for $2,600 in January of 2021.  The complaint alleges that the transaction occurred in a parking lot in San Jose and that after the transaction was completed, Torres Cruz offered to reduce the price of the methamphetamine if the source were willing to buy larger quantities.  Like De La Cruz, Torres Cruz is charged with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(viii).  If convicted, Torrez Cruz faces a minimum 5 years and a maximum 40 years in prison as well as a maximum $5,000,000 fine.

A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and each defendant must be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  The court may order additional terms of supervised release and restitution, if appropriate; however, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. 

The defendants are scheduled for court appearances as follows:

The case is being prosecuted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. The investigation of this case was conducted by the DEA and HSI with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the California Highway Patrol; the police departments of Hawthorne, Salinas, Soledad, and Gilroy; LA IMPACT; the Alameda County Narcotics Task Force; and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Tactical Analysis Unit.

This investigation and prosecution is part of OCDETF, which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.