Tenderloin Fentanyl Dealer Armed With Ghost Gun Sentenced To More Than Six Years In Prison

SAN FRANCISCO – Esmun Moyses Moral-Raudales was sentenced yesterday to 80 months in prison for crimes including distribution of, and possession with intent to distribute, fentanyl and methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), San Francisco Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. James Donato, United States District Judge.

Moral-Raudales, 28, a citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to two counts of distributing methamphetamine and one count of distributing fentanyl, all in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). He also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl with intent to distribute it, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(vi).

According to his plea agreement, Moral-Raudales admitted that, during two drug deals in the Tenderloin in January and February 2023, he sold a total of 103.8 grams (gross weight) of fentanyl and 95 grams (gross weight) of methamphetamine. He also admitted that, at the time of his arrest in Oakland in March 2023, he had 317.7 grams (gross weight) of fentanyl on his person and in his car, and that he had a loaded, privately manufactured, semi-automatic handgun (a “ghost gun”) in his backpack.

At the time he committed the offenses for which he was sentenced yesterday, Moral-Raudales was on federal supervised release following a 2020 drug trafficking conviction that also resulted from his sale of drugs in the Tenderloin.

“Recidivist drug dealers who prey on the Tenderloin are a clear and present danger to our community, especially those who arm themselves with guns,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “This Office will marshal all resources needed to ensure that repeat players in the Tenderloin drug market face justice.”

“Moral-Raudales was given the opportunity to change his life after his first federal drug trafficking conviction. Instead, he recklessly chose to endanger our community by selling poison in the Tenderloin while arming himself with a weapon,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark. “DEA will be relentless in our pursuit of those who repeatedly and brazenly violate the law.”

In addition to sentencing Moral-Raudales to prison, Judge Donato ordered the defendant to serve four years of supervised release to begin after his prison term is completed. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody.

Assistant U.S. Attorney George Hageman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Erick Machado. The prosecution is the result of a months-long investigation by the DEA and the San Francisco Police Department.

One Pill Can Kill: Beware of pills bought on the street. Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, is a highly potent opiate that can be diluted with cutting agents to create counterfeit pills that purport to mimic the effects of Oxycodone, Percocet, and other drugs, but can be obtained at a lower cost. However, very small variations in the amount or quality of fentanyl create huge effects on the potency of the counterfeit pills and can easily cause death. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills are usually shaped and colored to resemble pills that are sold legitimately at pharmacies.