A 27-year-old Hesperia man admitted in Federal Court on Thursday to transporting over 30,000 heroin pills to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2014. Efrain Barajas plead guilty to the Federal drug charges for his over 1-year-long involvement in the elaborate drug trafficking scheme.
A group of 11 men, three from California and the others from Louisiana, according to the U.S. Department of Justice were smuggling the heroin from Mexico to California. When it reached California, it was pressed to resemble oxycodone pills. Once in pill form the heroin pills were shipped to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to be distributed to mid-level drug dealers to be sold in East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes.
The group allegedly disguised the heroin as oxycodone to dupe the drug user into believing it was oxycodone, which could be sold at a higher price. The approximate street value of the drugs in total is estimated to be approximate $900,000. Barajas will be sentenced on October 13, 2016, for his conviction of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.
Six others also pleaded guilty in association with the case during previous hearings. The other six included Baton Rouge, Louisiana residents, 32-year-old Justin Scott and 42-year-old Daryl Walker and Denham Springs, Louisiana residents 35-year-old Keenan Harris Jr., 35-year-old Christopher Dean, 32-year-old Christian Becnet, and 33-year-old Randall Pendarvis.
The last four are still awaiting the outcome of their case, these include Baton Rouge residents, 32-year-olds Aaron Lambert and Brian Keith Hano Jr. and Costa Mesa, California resident 44-year-old Michael Almanza and Newport Beach resident 30-year-old Logan Brannon.
(Courtesy of Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office)
For late-breaking news, join 24/7 Headline News on our Facebook Newsgroups for Los Angeles County News, Riverside County News, Adelanto News, Coachella Valley News, U.S./World News, Victor Valley/Inland Empire News. If you like what we are doing and want regular updates on your Facebook stream like our Facebook Fan Page. You may also follow 24/7 Headline News on Twitter and Instagram!
Got News? Contact me at ChristieMartin@247headline.com
- Pomona Man Arrested After Crashing into a Wall at the Adelanto Sheriff’s Station - Wednesday, September 1st, 2021
- Norwalk Deputies Are Attempting to Locate Fatal Hit and Run Suspect - Tuesday, August 10th, 2021
- Cypress Man Arrested for Child Rape and Torturing Multiple Children - Tuesday, August 10th, 2021
Image Sources:
- Screen-Shot-2016-06-24-at-5.33.20-PM: Efrain Barajas, 27 of Hesperia (Courtesy of Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office)
- Efrain Barajas, 27 of Hesperia (Courtesy of Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office): Courtesy of Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office
