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Mexican nationals indicted for meth sales in Ceres, Empire
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Indictment

A federal grand jury has returned a four-count indictment Friday against three Mexican nationals who allegedly sold methamphetamine in Ceres and Empire this year.

Antonio Ochoa Mejia, 48, Ramon Ortega, 33, and Jorge Armando Gonzalez Martinez, 38, each have been charged with conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott. 

According to court documents, on April 18, 2019, Mejia and Ortega sold a kilogram of methamphetamine for $4,500 during an undercover transaction in Empire. On May 14, Mejia sold two kilograms of methamphetamine for $9,000 during an undercover transaction in Ceres. On May 30, Mejia and Martinez were arrested in Ceres after attempting to deliver 10 kilograms of methamphetamine during an undercover transaction.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the San Joaquin Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Massey is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, the three men face a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 10 years imprisonment, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine.