Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

SAN JOSE– Frank Miranda Carrillo pleaded guilty in federal court today to distributing crystal methamphetamine and illegally possessing unregistered firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Alex G. Tse and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Jill Snyder.  The guilty plea was accepted by the Honorable Lucy H. Koh, U.S. District Judge.

According to his plea agreement, Carrillo, 30, of Salinas, Calif., admitted he was a methamphetamine dealer.  Carrillo admitted that, on March 27, 2018, he attempted to sell 443.2 grams of crystal methamphetamine to an undercover agent.  Carrillo also admitted that between June of 2017 and March of 2018, he sold approximately 598 grams of crystal methamphetamine in numerous transactions including the following four sales: (1) on July 12, 2017, he sold 15.4 grams of crystal methamphetamine; (2) on July 26, 2017, he sold 111.1 grams of crystal methamphetamine; (3) on September 6, 2017, he sold 0.6 grams of crystal methamphetamine; and (4) on October 4, 2017, he sold 27.7 grams of crystal methamphetamine. 

In addition to selling drugs, Carrillo admitted he possessed and sold numerous firearms– even though he was a previously-convicted felon and he had no license to deal in firearms.  In his plea agreement, Carrillo itemized more than three dozen items that he either sold or of which he was in possession between June 7, 2017, and March 27, 2018, the date of his arrest. 

On July 18, 2018, Carrillo was charged by information with one count each of distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), and illegal possession of unregistered firearms, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d).  Pursuant to today’s plea agreement, Carrillo pleaded guilty to both charges. 

Carrillo has been in custody since the date of his arrest.  Judge Koh scheduled his sentencing for December 5, 2018.  Carrillo faces a statutory maximum of life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000,000 for the drug distribution charge.  In addition, Carrillo faces a mandatory minimum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison for the drug distribution charge.  With respect to the gun possession charge, Carrillo faces a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.  The court also must impose a five-year term of supervised release to follow his prison term.  However, any sentence will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The Organized Crime Strike Force Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF and the Salinas Police Department. 

Further Information:

            Case #: 5:18-cr-00323 (LHK)

            A copy of this press release will be placed on the U.S. Attorney's Office's website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can. 

            Electronic court filings and further procedural and docket information are available at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

            Judges' calendars with schedules for upcoming court hearings can be viewed on the court's website at www.cand.uscourts.gov. 

            All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney's Office should be directed to Abraham Simmons at (415) 436-7264 or by e-mail at Abraham.Simmons@usdoj.gov.

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