Arrest was part of Operation Red Reaper

FRESNO— On May 6, 2024, Louie Molina, 52, of Hanford, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, in March 2019, various agencies partnered in Operation Red Reaper, an investigation into the Nuestra Familia prison gang and the Norteño street gang in Kings County. During the investigation, recorded interceptions on a wiretap revealed that Molina was supplying methamphetamine to a codefendant, who was a target of the investigation. On May 3, 2019, Molina delivered about a half a pound of methamphetamine to his codefendant.  Law enforcement officers then attempted a to conduct a traffic stop on his car, but Molina sped off and led them on a high-speed chase. During the pursuit, Molina tossed a pound of methamphetamine out of his car.  After apprehending Molina, the officers recovered the methamphetamine.

 This case was the product of an investigation by the Kings County Gang Task Force, California Department of Justice special agents, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the FBI, the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. The DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, and Homeland Security Investigations all assisted with the takedown.

“Operation Red Reaper is an example of how local, state and federal law enforcement officers combine their resources and expertise to fight violent crime, and gang and drug activity that threatens the safety of all of us.  We very much appreciate their efforts and the fact that they put their own personal safety at risk in order to protect us,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.