SACRAMENTO, CA — Jesus Magana Mellin, 34, also known as “Compadre,” from Merced, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California on February 14, 2025.
According to court documents, Magana Mellin conspired with others between October and November 2022 to distribute significant quantities of controlled substances across California and other regions. The investigation, led by federal, state, and local law enforcement, culminated in the execution of search warrants at two storage units tied to Magana Mellin’s trafficking operation.
Inside these units, authorities discovered:
160 gallons of liquid methamphetamine
158 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine
14 kilograms of heroin
7 kilograms of cocaine
40 grams of fentanyl pills
Additionally, three of Magana Mellin’s associates, Vanessa Arauza, Pedro Duarte Sanchez, and Luis Higuera Lopez, have already been charged and convicted as part of the ongoing investigation.
If convicted, Magana Mellin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, along with a potential $10 million fine.
The charges against him are part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), a national effort designed to disrupt the supply of synthetic opioids in high-impacted areas. The operation seeks to dismantle major distribution networks and target both domestic and international suppliers of illegal drugs.
Magana Mellin is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Authorities continue to investigate this significant drug trafficking operation.