Modesto man indicted on federal drug, gun charges after arrest in motel last month
A Modesto man was indicted on three charges Thursday in federal court following an investigation that led officers to find him with drugs and loaded firearms in a motel room, federal prosecutors said.
In December, officers began investigating 40-year-old Reymundo Jose Mendez for possible drug sales and firearm possession, according to a release from the eastern California U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Officers found Mendez on Jan. 25 at Arrow Inn on Ninth Street near River Road in south Modesto while executing a search warrant, according to the release. He allegedly had two loaded firearms in his pants pockets and another loaded shotgun, fentanyl, methamphetamine and digital scales in the room.
A grand jury indicted Mendez on charges including possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of firearms.
Mendez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine if convicted on the methamphetamine distribution charge.
He faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of up to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of possessing a firearm to aid drug trafficking.
And Mendez faces 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case is a joint federal, state and local investigation through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which is part of its violent crime reduction efforts.
This story was originally published February 10, 2022 at 2:05 PM.
