California Man Indicted on Fentanyl Distribution Charges

United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 10, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Richard Garner (age: 55) of Rancho Cucamonga, California.

On November 20, 2019, Garner was arrested in Riverside, California based on a criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The criminal complaint alleged, among other things, on July 31, 2019, Garner had a suspected drug-laden package mailed from Redondo Beach, California to a residence in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted the suspicious package, which was later confirmed to contain approximately a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of N-Phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl] propanamide, commonly known as fentanyl.

The indictment returned against Garner alleges he conspired to possess with intent to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, contrary to Title 21, United States Code, Section 846; and that he possessed with the intent to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, contrary to Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)(vi). If convicted of the charges alleged, Garner faces a mandatory ten year term of imprisonment and up to a lifetime term of imprisonment.

Garner is pending arraignment in Milwaukee federal court.

This case was investigated by the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Brady, Jr.

An indictment and criminal complaint contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.