Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

Joshua Christopher Astorga, 29, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Feb. 8, 2022, Astorga was arrested in Madera County in possession of 2,500 counterfeit M-30 pills laced with fentanyl.

During a months’ long investigation, agents learned Astorga was involved in dealing M-30 pills laced with fentanyl. In Sept. 2021, Astorga conspired with another individual to distribute 100 M-30 pills. On Feb. 8, 2022, Astorga negotiated the sale of 500 M-30 pills. A subsequent traffic stop conducted by the California Highway Patrol recovered 2,500 M-30 pills from his car.

The case was the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is prosecuting the case.

Astorga is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 27, 2023. He faces a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison and a fine up to $5 million. The actual sentence, however, will 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.