FRESNO— On March 14, 2019, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Josue Garcia-Beltran, 40, and Rafael Medina Labrada, 34, both of Los Angeles, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  The two were arrested on February 25, 2019, while delivering methamphetamine to an undercover officer in Fresno. Forty-five pounds of methamphetamine were seized during the operation.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), composed of law enforcement personnel from Homeland Security Investigations, the California Department of Justice, the Fresno Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, the Kings County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. HIIT conducts major narcotic and other major criminal investigations in the Central Valley.

If convicted, Garcia-Beltran and Labrada face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine.

“Kudos to the Fresno High Impact Investigation Team,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “It’s a team of law enforcement officers and agents on every level – local, state, and federal, and demonstrates the effectiveness of combining resources and expertise.  The end result – 45 pounds of seized meth is off the streets and the two allegedly selling it are too.”