FRESNO — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment Thursday against Simeon Hernandez-Ortiz, 24, of West Sacramento, charging him with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Hernandez-Ortiz was stopped by a law enforcement officer on Feb. 6 while traveling north on Interstate 5 in Stanislaus County. Based upon the officer’s subsequent investigation, the vehicle was searched and the officer found 85 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in the trunk.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the California Highway Patrol, Stanislaus Investigative Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen A. Servatius is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 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.