Man pleads guilty to narcotics, gun offenses in court

A Suisun City man, 29, pleaded guilty Thursday in Sacramento federal court to narcotics and firearm offenses.

Jesus Heriberto Barajas, who will be sentenced in the coming months, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and methamphetamine for distribution and possessing a firearm as a felon, McGregor W. Scott, a U.S. Attorney for the Department of Justice’s Eastern District of California, said in a press release.

According to court documents, on April 11, 2019, police officers with a warrant searched Barajas’ home in Suisun City. During the search, they found approximately 860 grams (1.9 pounds) of powder cocaine, 370 grams (0.8 pounds) of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and a stolen .40-caliber pistol that had been modified to function as a fully automatic machine gun.

Under the law, Barajas is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition because he has previously been convicted of a felony offense.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case, and Barajas is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley on May 20.

For each of the narcotics charges, Barajas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison, plus a fine of up to $5 million. For the firearm charge, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case stemmed from an investigation by the Fairfield Police Department, with special assistance from the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

It is also part of Project Guardian, the DOJ’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.