Robert Charles Crist, a 58-year-old resident of Vacaville, has entered a guilty plea for charges related to illegal firearm possession and the manufacturing of a controlled substance. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
Court documents reveal that on September 20, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Crist's residence. During the search, officers discovered a lab used for producing N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. It was found that Crist traveled to Hawaii to procure plant materials necessary for DMT production and mailed them back to California. He extracted DMT liquid from these materials and converted it into a smokable crystalline form intended for distribution. Additionally, Crist was found in possession of a firearm despite being prohibited due to five prior felony convictions.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Solano County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Emily G. Sauvageau is handling the prosecution.
Crist's sentencing is scheduled for March 21, 2025, before Judge Dena Coggins. He faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the firearm charge and up to 20 years in prison for manufacturing a controlled substance. The final sentence will be determined by the court after considering statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced strategy on May 26, 2021, focusing on trust-building within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and result measurement.
For further details about Project Safe Neighborhoods visit Justice.gov/PSN.