DOJ: Storage shed full of hard drugs leads to Merced man’s indictment

MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) — A Merced man known as “Compadre” is being accused of operating a drug trafficking ring after hundreds of kilograms of hard drugs were uncovered in a storage shed, the United States Department of Justice said.

According to the DOJ, a federal indictment was unsealed Friday charging Jesus Magana Mellin, aka “Compadre,” 34, of Merced with possession and intent to distribute substantial amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.

According to court documents, between October and November 2022, Magana Mellin conspired to traffic these controlled substances in California and elsewhere.

The DOJ says search warrants on two storage units connected to Magana Mellin’s drug trafficking ring uncovered 160 gallons of liquid methamphetamine, 158 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 14 kilograms of heroin, 7 kilograms of cocaine, and 40 grams of fentanyl pills.

Magana Mellin is being charged with possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, according to the DOJ.

If convicted he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine.

The DOJ says Vanessa Arauza, Pedro Duarte Sanchez, and Luis Higuera Lopez have already been convicted in the case.