Four indicted on federal drug related charges
The four individuals are accused of conspiring to distribute controlled narcotics in Sacramento and Solano counties.
(Stock image)
Four Sacramento residents were indicted this week on federal charges of conspiring to distribute guns and two controlled narcotics in Sacramento and Solano counties.
A federal grand jury on Thursday returned a bill of indictment against Tyler Combs (40), Michael Garcia (32), Nancy Garcia (31) and Gonzalo Garcia (55). The four are charged with various drugs and firearms-related offenses, according to a statement issued by McGregor Scott, the U.S. Attorney who oversees prosecutions in the federal Eastern District of California.
The four individuals are presumed innocent unless and until convicted by trial or plea agreement.
Prosecutors say Michael Garcia conspired with his father Gonzalo and wife Nancy to operate a drug-running business while he was serving out a sentence in Tulare County Jail. Once released, the drug-running operation continued, with Michael Garcia accused of faciliating the sale and distribution of heroin and methamphetamine.
In addition to the drugs, Michael Garcia is accused of conspiring with Combs to sell an unserialized machine gun and at least 10 other firearms to a person who was not identified in charging documents. Federal prosecutors said the sale itself was bad enough, made worse by the fact that Garcia and Combs are not allowed to possess firearms because of previous felony convictions.
The case was brought to the attention of federal prosecutors following a wide-ranging investigation through the FBI’s Solano COunty Violent Crimes Task Force. The alleged actions were also investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the federal District of Arizona.
The drug offenses carry a potential life in prison sentence upon a conviction, with some of the drug charges carrying certain mandatory minimum as required by federal law. Those mandatory minimum are often broadly applied in cases more often than Congress likely intended when they were developed, according to information published by the United States Sentencing Commission, an independent agency tasked with creating sentencing guidelines for federal judges in criminal cases.
Judges are required to consider the guidance of the United States Sentencing Commission, but any actual sentence is handed down based on a consideration of the defendant, including past criminal history and the circumstances of each case. Because of their broad discretion, it’s hard to predict what sentence a defendant might get based on a criminal case, except when mandatory minimum sentences apply.
This newsletter is an all-volunteer effort. If you would like to show your appreciation, consider making a donation in any amount or converting your email subscription into a paid one. Discuss this newsletter and other stories from across Solano County on our Facebook group here.
This newsletter is not affiliated with the County of Solano, its agencies or county officials.