Father-and-Son Duo from Westside Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaints Alleging Fentanyl Trafficking and Gun Sales

LOS ANGELES – A Westside father and son were arrested today on federal criminal complaints charging them with possessing narcotics – specifically, the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl – with the intent to distribute it to others.

Antonio Espinoza Zarate, 55, a.k.a. “El Gato,” of the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles, and his son, Francisco Javier Espinoza Galindo, 31, of Santa Monica, were arrested this morning and are scheduled to make their initial appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

Both defendants are charged with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Antonio Espinoza also is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien.

According to affidavits filed with the complaints, Antonio Espinoza in July 2023 sold a pistol, a rifle, 131 rounds of ammunition, and more than 500 grams of fentanyl pills to a buyer. He is not licensed to engage in the business of dealing in firearms.

In August 2023, Antonio Espinoza allegedly sold an AR-style rifle and approximately 1 kilogram of fentanyl pills to a buyer, supplied by Francisco Espinoza. In January 2025, he allegedly sold a rifle, a pistol, a revolver, and ammunition to a buyer. In February 2025, with his son present, Antonio Espinoza sold more than 500 grams of fentanyl pills to the confidential informant.

Antonio Espinoza is a citizen of Mexico, who has been previously deported in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2017 and illegally reentered the United States following his removals, according to court documents. His criminal history includes felony convictions in 2008 in Los Angeles Superior Court for possession of narcotics for sale and in 2015 in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona for illegal reentry of a removed alien.

A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted of all charges, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

The investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California, with support from special agents with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California – Criminal Investigative Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department regarding dangers to the community from the sales of narcotics and firearms.

As U.S. DOJ special agents, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) Criminal Investigators conduct independent and joint-agency investigations to achieve successful prosecutions and adjudications of federal crimes charged in the district.  USAO investigators are positioned to address the prosecution priorities of the U.S. Attorney, as well as unique or project-based matters that may arise in the district and serve to generate or support a variety of federal cases with coordination and continuity among law enforcement partners throughout an investigation and trial.

Assistant United States Attorney Diane B. Roldán of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is prosecuting these cases.