Newman man indicted in drug case

A federal grand jury in Fresno returned a two-count indictment charging a Newman man with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

The indictment alleges that since at least October 2011, Juan Venegas, 40, has been involved in an ongoing conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine within the Eastern District of California and elsewhere.

On Nov. 14, according to court documents, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration served a search warrant at a suspected stash house in Newman and recovered more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine, along with a laboratory to convert methamphetamine into crystal methamphetamine.

If convicted, Venegas faces 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine.