FRESNO - Due to the efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies working together over the course of the past 18 months on an investigation targeting local criminal street gangs in Bakersfield, 12 defendants were indicted for drug trafficking and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
On Nov. 17, 2022, a federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment against William Arthur Poush, 43, of Bakersfield; Rosa Fernandez, 43, of Bakersfield; Timothy Robert Hingston, 39, of North Hollywood; Spencer Matthew Hopper, 35, of Montrose; and Dale Vincent Perez, 39, of Bakersfield. According to court documents, on Jan. 20, 2022, and Feb. 24, 2022, Poush and Fernandez sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. On May 11, 2022, Poush sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine and several fentanyl pills to a confidential informant. On Aug. 13, 2022, Hingston and Hopper distributed over 500 grams of methamphetamine and over 400 grams of fentanyl to Poush, and Poush possessed that same quantity with the intent to distribute. On Aug. 19, 2022, Poush and Perez conspired to possess with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and Perez possessed that same quantity with intent to distribute it. And on Sept. 1, 2022, Poush possessed over 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Bakersfield residents Dale Wesley Hubbard, 49, and Darlene Crystal Viera, 40, charging them with conspiring and distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court documents, Hubbard and Viera sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine and over 40 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant on May 3, 2022, and over 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on May 25, 2022.
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Bakersfield residents Manuel Yanes, 25, and Jorge Luis Yanes, 28, charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, on June 29, 2022, and on July 22, 2022, Manuel Yanes agreed to sell over 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Jorge Yanes delivered that same amount of methamphetamine to a confidential informant.
A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Bakersfield residents Luis Mauricio Castanon, 33, and Bryan Steven Reyes, 28, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on July 16, 2020, Castanon sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. On Dec. 10, 2021, Castanon and Reyes conspired to distribute. They did distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant, and on April 15, 2022, Reyes sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant.
A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against David Garcia, 35, of Bakersfield, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, officers learned that Garcia was on parole and subject to search terms during a traffic stop. A search of his vehicle yielded a stolen, loaded firearm and over 50 grams of methamphetamine.
If convicted, the defendants face maximum sentences between 10 years and life in prison and $250,000 to $10 million in fines. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the court's discretion after considering 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.
