FRESNO  -   A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Jesus Ramos, 48, of Sinaloa, Mexico, charging him with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, eutylone, hydrocodone, and ketamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Oct. 13, 2021, after negotiating for the delivery 10,000 “pills” and “one of China”–a street term for synthetic heroin powder usually containing fentanyl–Ramos delivered pills containing fentanyl that weighed approximately 31 grams and approximately 2 pounds of a white powdery substance containing eutylone, hydrocodone, and ketamine. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 2 milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose. Ketamine is a schedule III pain reliever commonly used in anesthesia. Hydrocodone is a schedule II opiate used for severe pain. Eutylone is a schedule I stimulant, and is also known as “boot.”

This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), which is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative (HIDTA) composed of law enforcement personnel from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the DEA; the California Department of Justice; the California Highway Patrol; the Sheriff’s Offices of Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties; and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Ramos faces a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. 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 defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.