FRESNO, CALIF. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - California, Eastern), published as received.
FRESNO, Calif. — Isaac Benito Lopez, 39, of Fresno, was arrested and charged by complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Oct. 21, 2026, Lopez drove to a Fresno restaurant to sell 4 kilograms of fentanyl. Investigators arrested Lopez. Later, investigators executed a search warrant at his residence, where they discovered nearly an additional 400 grams of fentanyl. Investigators also discovered at the residence an AR-style rifle with a drum-style magazine containing in excess of 70 rounds of ammunition for the firearm.
“This arrest reflects our Office’s commitment to disrupting high‑volume narcotics pipelines and targeting individuals engaged in trafficking fentanyl into the community,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Coordinated enforcement efforts with federal, state, and local partners remain central to identifying distribution networks, executing intelligence‑driven interdictions, and removing lethal substances from circulation. This arrest demonstrates how collaborative investigative work can neutralize immediate threats to public safety.”
“DEA will not stop targeting fentanyl dealers who peddle poison in our communities,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent In Charge Bob P. Beris. “DEA will work shoulder to shoulder with our partners to bring these drug dealers to justice.”
“The Fresno Police Department works closely with our federal partners to maximize our impact on eradicating narcotic sales, including sales of fentanyl, in our community. Our officers are proud to be a part of the team that brought the sales of fentanyl to an end by the suspect in this case. We look forward to working with our local, state and federal partners to continue the effort to remove this deadly drug from our streets and arrest those who dare to sell it within our city,” said Fresno Police Department Chief of Police Mindy Casto.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Fresno Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Chan Hee Chu is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Lopez faces a mandatory minimum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison with a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison, and up to a $10,000,000 fine. Any sentence, however, is at the discretion of the sentencing 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 defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
