FRESNO -  A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Pedro Alegra Jr., 21, of Delano, and Edgardo Rosales-Andrade, 23, of Paramount, charging them with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Rosales-Andrade was also charged with the illegal importation of narcotics, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

“The investigation of international drug trafficking operations is a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations,” said Tatum King, a special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco. “HSI in the Central Valley employs all of its resources to prevent these dangerous criminal networks from threatening our communities.”

According to court documents, on Nov. 15, HSI and Customs and Border Patrol agents tracked a cargo truck carrying 312 pounds of methamphetamine to Delano, in Kern County where Alegra and Rosales-Andrade were waiting. Agents obtained a search warrant for the truck and residence and found an additional 60 pounds of methamphetamine in the residence. The methamphetamine was concealed in furniture in the cargo truck.

This case is the product of an investigation by HSI and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Newman is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Alegra and Rosales-Andrade face a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and up to a lifetime prison term and a fine of up to $10 million. 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.