SAN DIEGO—A Chula Vista man who distributed more than 100 pounds of fentanyl and other drugs was sentenced Dec. 1 to nearly six years in federal prison.
Ernesto Renteria, 45, pleaded guilty earlier this year to four counts related to possessing drugs with the intent to distribute and received a 71-month term on Wednesday.
According to his plea agreement, Renteria was storing drugs at his home and shipping them to distributors across the United States through UPS.
DEA agents seized 108.2 pounds of fentanyl from Renteria, along with smaller amounts of fentanyl analogue, cocaine and methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“The quantity of fentanyl DEA agents seized from Ernesto Renteria is disturbing,” DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Shelly S. Howe said in a statement.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office called the seizure “yet another example of drug cartels pushing huge quantities of fentanyl into the San Diego community” and cited last month’s arrest of a trucker who allegedly tried to cross into the U.S. through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry with drugs in his trailer.
Federal authorities say they found and seized a “record-breaking” 17,584 pounds of methamphetamine and 388.93 pounds of fentanyl from the man’s trailer on Nov. 19.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DEA Agents nationwide have seized a record-high 12,000 pounds of fentanyl this year.
