Abel Lozano, 29, of Sanger, received a 14-year prison sentence on Monday in Fresno federal court for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Lozano’s sentence was the first among 14 people who have pleaded guilty to fentanyl or cocaine distribution stemming from the “Operation Killer High” investigation.

According to court documents, after a series of overdoses in the Fresno area caused by counterfeit oxycodone M30 tablets containing fentanyl, an investigation began to find the drug dealers.

Operation Killer High uncovered a large trafficking ring led by Horacio Torrecillas Urias Jr., the self-proclaimed “M30 king of Fresno.”

Prosecutors said that in February 2022 investigators learned that Urias planned to deliver several thousand fentanyl pills to Lozano.

Two days later, federal officers searched Lozano’s home and found about a kilogram of fentanyl analogue, more than a kilogram of fentanyl mixture, about a kilogram of meth, more than 3 kilograms of marijuana, and a small amount of cocaine.

During an interrogation, Lozano admitted that the drugs were his and that he was buying and reselling them in large quantities, including to customers in other states.

Lozano and 17 others were indicted by a federal grand jury in 2022.

Waiting to Be Sentenced

Marvin Carreno, 24, of Fresno, pleaded guilty Monday to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. He is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Feb. 12, 2024.

The following co-defendants have pleaded guilty to fentanyl or cocaine distribution charges and also await sentencing:
• Henry Cox, Sanger;
• Justin Riddle, Las Cruces, New Mexico;
• Erica Ramirez,  Alejandro Guzman,  Agustin Hernandez, Christian Harris-Blanchette, Oscar Jaramillo-Cortez, Jacob Valles, Cody Fyfe, Juan Valencia Jr., Amadeo Sarabia Jr., and Alex Garcia, all of Fresno.

Charges Pending Against M30 King of Fresno

The office of U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert said Monday that charges are pending against Horacio Torrecillas Urias Jr. and three other defendants.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team, a unit composed of officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno and Clovis police departments

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Laurel J. Montoya are the prosecutors.