San Jose: Three are charged in drug distribution conspiracy

SAN JOSE >> A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted three San Jose residents in connection with a drug distribution conspiracy, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, the indictment charges 33-year-old Miguel Angel Bravo Vasquez, 47-year-old Francisco Heredia Munoz and 37-year-old Jose Alberto Cruz Garcia with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.

Bravo Vasquez and Heredia Munoz are also charged with one additional count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine.

According to a criminal complaint filed July 18, Homeland Security Investigations opened an investigation into a drug trafficking organization allegedly involving Bravo Vasquez in February 2017. Undercover agents arranged a pair of drug buys through the defendant, the first taking place in a Cardenas Market parking lot on Sept. 11, 2018. Bravo Vasquez allegedly sold 5 pounds of methamphetamine to the agents and gave them a sample of 100 fentanyl pills. The drugs were packaged in a brown paper shopping bag.

Bravo Vasquez handed the payment for the drugs to Heredia Munoz, who later drove to a restaurant and shared the proceeds with Cruz Garcia, according to the complaint.

The second buy took place on July 12 in a Smart & Final parking lot. This time, the three defendants allegedly sold 37 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, which was stuffed inside a speaker box.

“The (undercover agent) attempted to open the speaker box but was unable to,” the complaint says. “Heredia handed a power drill to Cruz Garcia, who then loosened the screws of the speaker box. Inside the speaker box, the (undercover agent) saw several plastic bags containing a white crystal substance that appeared to be crystal meth.”

At that point, agents swooped in, seized the drugs and arrested the defendants, according to the complaint.

Heredia Munoz and Cruz Garcia were arraigned on the charges Thursday. Bravo Vasquez’s arraignment is slated to take place Monday. All three remain in federal custody.

If convicted of any of the drug charges, the defendants face a maximum statutory sentence of 40 years in prison and a fine of $5 million.