Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 13-count indictment today against Juan Carranza, 23; Jose Carranza-Pompa, 57; Lorenzo Carranza-Pompa, 48; and Maria Carranza, 44, all of Modesto, charging them with a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine; distribution of cocaine; distribution of methamphetamine; distribution of heroin; and possession with intent to distribute heroin, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to the indictment, from February 9, 2014, to December 2, 2015, the defendants conspired to distribute cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine in Modesto. Each defendant is alleged to have sold narcotics on multiple occasions throughout that time period. The defendants were arrested on December 2, 2015, in Modesto.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Modesto Police Department Gang Unit, the Modesto Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Stockton Police Department, the Ceres Police Department, the Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorneys Melanie Alsworth and Daniel Griffin are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Juan Carranza, Jose Carranza-Pompa and Lorenzo Carranza-Pompa face a statutory penalty of five to 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. Maria Carranza faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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