‘Peddling death’: Man convicted for dealing drugs with 15-year-old in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A 31-year-old man faces up to 12 years behind bars after being convicted of dealing drugs along with a 15-year-old in San Francisco’s problematic Tenderloin District this past spring, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office said Francisco Maradiaga, 31, was convicted by a jury of three counts of solicitation of a minor to sell narcotics and three counts of possession for sale or purchase of narcotics, including fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.

The DA’s office said the incident occurred March 13 when police were conducting a “narcotics spotting operation” in the area of O’Farrell and Hyde Streets when they saw Maradiaga and the child do a hand-to-hand drug transaction.

“SFPD Plain Clothes Officers observed an unknown male approach Mr. Maradiaga and the minor and engaged in a conversation,” said the DA’s office. “The minor took out a bag of individually packaged narcotics from a black bag strapped across Mr. Maradiaga’s chest and provided it to the unknown male. The unknown male handed the minor cash and walked away.”

According to the DA’s office, while searching Maradiaga’s bag and jacket, San Francisco police confirmed its officers recovered approximately 10.6 grams of fentanyl, 10 grams of cocaine base, and 27.3 grams of methamphetamine. San Francisco PD said they found $879 on the teen.

“The jury’s verdict holds Mr. Maradiaga accountable for peddling death in our community and for his brazen exploitation of a teenager in his unlawful enterprise,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins in a news release. “Although there is much more work to be done, the tide is turning, and my office will do everything in our power to close open air drug markets and not allow us to backslide. 

Maradiaga currently awaits sentencing.

“This conviction shows that the people of San Francisco are committed to holding accountable those who traffic poison in our community,” added Assistant DA Robert Miranda.