FRESNO, California — Isaac Benito Lopez, 39, of Fresno, was arrested and charged by complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California (Justice.gov)
According to court documents cited by the U.S. Attorney's Office, on October 21, 2026, Lopez drove to a Fresno restaurant to sell 4 kilograms of fentanyl and investigators arrested him there. Investigators later executed a search warrant at his residence, where they discovered nearly an additional 400 grams of fentanyl and an AR-style rifle with a drum-style magazine containing more than 70 rounds of ammunition.
The Drug Enforcement Administration announced the same arrest in its own release, naming DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris alongside the U.S. Attorney.
Source: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA.gov)
"This arrest reflects our Office's commitment to disrupting high-volume narcotics pipelines," U.S. Attorney Grant said. DEA Special Agent in Charge Beris said the DEA "will not stop targeting fentanyl dealers who peddle poison in our communities." Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto said her department works closely with federal partners to remove fentanyl sales from the city.
The case is the product of an investigation by the DEA and the Fresno Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chan Hee Chu is prosecuting it, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
If convicted, Lopez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million (yaani about one crore U.S. dollars). The charges are allegations only; Lopez is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.