Sanger Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogues in Operation Killer High

FRESNO, Calif. — Abel Lozano, 29, of Sanger, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing detectible amount of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl analogue, and 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, after a series of overdoses in the Fresno area caused by counterfeit oxycodone M30 tablets containing fentanyl, or M30s, an investigation began to find the drug dealers suppling the toxic pills. The investigation, named “Operation Killer High,” uncovered a large drug-trafficking ring led by Horacio Torrecillas Urias Jr., the self-proclaimed “M30 king of Fresno.”

According to court documents, 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, over a kilogram of fentanyl mixture, about a kilogram of methamphetamine, over 3 kilograms of marijuana, and a small amount of cocaine. Lozano was interviewed and admitted that the drugs were his and that he was regularly 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. Lozano is the first defendant to be sentenced. Marvin Carreno, 24, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Feb. 12, 2024.

Twelve co-defendants have previously pleaded guilty to fentanyl or cocaine distribution charges and are now awaiting sentencing.

• Henry Cox, 23, of Sanger;
• Justin Riddle, of Las Cruces, New Mexico,
• Erica Ramirez, of Fresno;
• Alejandro Guzman, of Fresno;
• Agustin Hernandez, of Fresno;
• Christian Harris-Blanchette, of Fresno;
• Oscar Jaramillo-Cortez, of Fresno;
• Jacob Valles, of Fresno;
• Cody Fyfe, of Fresno;
• Juan Valencia Jr., of Fresno;
• Amadeo Sarabia Jr., of Fresno; and
• Alex Garcia, of Fresno.

Charges are pending against the remaining four defendants: Horacio Torrecillas Urias Jr., Alma Garza, Brayan Cruz, and Victor Yair Torrecillas-Urias. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team (FORT), an agency 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 prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.