Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Jury Convicts Fresno Woman in High-Profile Fentanyl Trafficking Sweep
bill-new-mug-002
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 14 mins ago on
September 30, 2024

A federal jury convicted Alma Lucia Garza, 23, of Fresno, on Friday for her participation in a notorious fentanyl trafficking ring. (Fresno County SO)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A federal jury convicted Alma Lucia Garza, 23, of Fresno, on Friday for her participation in a notorious fentanyl trafficking ring.

The jury concluded a four-day trial by finding Garza guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert said in a news release.

Evidence at trial showed that Garza was a trusted assistant of the self-proclaimed M30 King of Fresno, Horacio Torrecillas Urias Jr. And, between Nov. 2, 2021, and March 31, 2022, Garza teamed with Torrecillas Urias and others to obtain tens of thousands of counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills and large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from sources in Mexico.

The conspiracy included the distribution of these illegal drugs to street dealers in and out of California. On Jan. 27, 2022, Garza mailed a package with cocaine and methamphetamine to a co-defendant in New Mexico. Law enforcement seized the package before it arrived.

Then, On Feb. 9, 2022, Garza traveled with Torrecillas Urias to Sanger to deliver thousands of pills laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine. Those pills were seized by law enforcement during the execution of a residential search warrant two days later.

Prosecutors Go 19-for-19 Against Drug Ring Defendants

Prosecutors charged Garza, Torrecillas Urias, and 17 others. All defendants pleaded guilty or were found guilty at trial.

Sentencing for Garza is set for Jan. 6, 2025. She faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. However, the court will determine her sentence after considering statutory factors and federal guidelines.

The Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team (a multi-agency team composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Department), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Clovis Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Antonio J. Pataca are the prosecutors.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Alabama Reclaims No. 1 Spot in AP Poll, UNLV Makes History with First-Ever Ranking

DON'T MISS

Jury Convicts Fresno Woman in High-Profile Fentanyl Trafficking Sweep

DON'T MISS

State of the Race: A Calm Week and Perhaps the Clearest Picture Yet

DON'T MISS

Baseball Playoff Picture Still Up in the Air as NL Teams Battle for Wild Card Spots

DON'T MISS

Kris Kristofferson, Singer-Songwriter and Actor, Dies at 88

DON'T MISS

Caleb Williams Leads 4 Scoring Drives as Bears Beat Rams

DON'T MISS

It’s a ‘Very Difficult Time’ for U.S. Jews as High Holy Days and Oct. 7 Anniversary Coincide

DON'T MISS

FBI to Pay $22M to Settle Claims of Sexual Discrimination at Training Academy

DON'T MISS

Conservative Christians Were Skeptical of Mail-in Ballots. Now They Are Gathering Them in Churches

DON'T MISS

A Dockworkers Strike Could Shut Down East and Gulf Ports. Will It Affect Holiday Shopping?

UP NEXT

Jury Convicts Fresno Woman in High-Profile Fentanyl Trafficking Sweep

UP NEXT

State of the Race: A Calm Week and Perhaps the Clearest Picture Yet

UP NEXT

Baseball Playoff Picture Still Up in the Air as NL Teams Battle for Wild Card Spots

UP NEXT

Kris Kristofferson, Singer-Songwriter and Actor, Dies at 88

UP NEXT

Caleb Williams Leads 4 Scoring Drives as Bears Beat Rams

UP NEXT

It’s a ‘Very Difficult Time’ for U.S. Jews as High Holy Days and Oct. 7 Anniversary Coincide

UP NEXT

FBI to Pay $22M to Settle Claims of Sexual Discrimination at Training Academy

UP NEXT

Conservative Christians Were Skeptical of Mail-in Ballots. Now They Are Gathering Them in Churches

UP NEXT

A Dockworkers Strike Could Shut Down East and Gulf Ports. Will It Affect Holiday Shopping?

UP NEXT

California Governor Signs Bills to Protect Children From AI Deepfake Nudes

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Baseball Playoff Picture Still Up in the Air as NL Teams Battle for Wild Card Spots

25 mins ago

Kris Kristofferson, Singer-Songwriter and Actor, Dies at 88

45 mins ago

Caleb Williams Leads 4 Scoring Drives as Bears Beat Rams

1 hour ago

It’s a ‘Very Difficult Time’ for U.S. Jews as High Holy Days and Oct. 7 Anniversary Coincide

1 hour ago

FBI to Pay $22M to Settle Claims of Sexual Discrimination at Training Academy

1 hour ago

Conservative Christians Were Skeptical of Mail-in Ballots. Now They Are Gathering Them in Churches

1 hour ago

A Dockworkers Strike Could Shut Down East and Gulf Ports. Will It Affect Holiday Shopping?

1 hour ago

California Governor Signs Bills to Protect Children From AI Deepfake Nudes

1 hour ago

California Governor Vetoes Bill to Create First-in-Nation AI Safety Measures

1 hour ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Hangs Near Its Records After Wild Swings in Asian Markets

2 hours ago

Alabama Reclaims No. 1 Spot in AP Poll, UNLV Makes History with First-Ever Ranking

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama returned to No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll for the first time in two years on Sunday following its...

10 seconds ago

10 seconds ago

Alabama Reclaims No. 1 Spot in AP Poll, UNLV Makes History with First-Ever Ranking

14 mins ago

Jury Convicts Fresno Woman in High-Profile Fentanyl Trafficking Sweep

14 mins ago

State of the Race: A Calm Week and Perhaps the Clearest Picture Yet

25 mins ago

Baseball Playoff Picture Still Up in the Air as NL Teams Battle for Wild Card Spots

45 mins ago

Kris Kristofferson, Singer-Songwriter and Actor, Dies at 88

1 hour ago

Caleb Williams Leads 4 Scoring Drives as Bears Beat Rams

1 hour ago

It’s a ‘Very Difficult Time’ for U.S. Jews as High Holy Days and Oct. 7 Anniversary Coincide

1 hour ago

FBI to Pay $22M to Settle Claims of Sexual Discrimination at Training Academy

Search

Send this to a friend