California Man Sentenced to Over 13 Years of Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

Gulfport, Miss. –   A California man was sentenced to 159 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.  

Cedric Joseph Gaytan, age 63, of Orange, California, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court records, after a controlled purchase of fentanyl pills from Gaytan on July 22, 2022, agents obtained a search warrant for Gaytan’s Biloxi residence.  During the search of the residence, investigators located 173 grams of fentanyl inside of a grandfather clock in the living room.

Gaytan was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 16, 2022.  He pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on March 28, 2023.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Biloxi Police Department. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.