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

FRESNO, Calif. — On March 17, 2023, a three-count indictment was unsealed charging Genevra Winton, 51, and Shannon Bargas, 51, both of Fresno, with charges related to a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on March 20, 2023, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Winton’s residence and elsewhere. After the searches, Winton and Bargas were charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl, Bargas was charged with distributing fentanyl pills, and Winton was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Winton was convicted of a felony in 2010 and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

This case is the product of an investigation by FORT, a team focused on investigating fentanyl overdose cases and composed of officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Winton and Bargas face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for the fentanyl distribution conspiracy. Bargas faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for fentanyl distribution. Winton faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for the felon in possession of a firearm charge. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.