Jury indicts two men for drug, firearms offenses after sting in Vallejo

A federal grand jury Thursday in Sacramento returned a five-count indictment on drug and weapons charges against two men after an undercover law enforcement sting in Vallejo.

Calvin James Smith, 33, a transient, and Marques Julius Johnson, 39, of Sacramento, are charged with possession with the intent to distribute at least 500 grams, or slightly more than one pound, of methamphetamine.

Smith also is charged with possession of ammunition after being convicted of a domestic violence offense, and Johnson is charged with three additional counts of distribution of methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, of the Eastern District of California, announced in a press release.

According to court documents, undercover operatives made “multiple” purchases of counterfeit tablets of MDMA, a psychoactive drug commonly called Ecstasy, which contained methamphetamine from Johnson, in Vallejo and Sacramento.

On Dec. 9 last year, Johnson and Smith were arrested together during an undercover purchase in Vallejo and allegedly found to have in their possession 6,000 methamphetamine tablets and a loaded pistol. Smith was also found carrying an AR-15 rifle that was loaded with a high-capacity magazine, court records indicate.

Smith and Johnson remain in custody in Sacramento County Jail.

The case stems from an investigation by the Vallejo Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Nelsen leads the prosecution.

If convicted, Johnson and Smith face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison and a $10 million fine.

At press time, it was unclear if Johnson and Smith were in custody or if they had attorneys.