A father and son from the Westside area of Los Angeles were arrested on federal criminal complaints for allegedly trafficking fentanyl and selling firearms. Antonio Espinoza Zarate, also known as "El Gato," aged 55, from Mar Vista, and his son Francisco Javier Espinoza Galindo, aged 31, from Santa Monica, face charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Antonio Espinoza is additionally charged with illegal reentry after being deported.
According to affidavits linked to the complaints, in July 2023, Antonio Espinoza sold a pistol, a rifle, ammunition, and over 500 grams of fentanyl pills without a firearms dealing license. In August 2023, he allegedly sold an AR-style rifle and approximately one kilogram of fentanyl pills supplied by Francisco Espinoza. Further transactions in January and February 2025 involved more firearms and fentanyl sales.
Antonio Espinoza has been deported multiple times since 2010 and has previous felony convictions related to narcotics possession for sale in Los Angeles Superior Court (2008) and illegal reentry in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona (2015).
The investigation was led by the Homeland Security Investigations El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force with support from several agencies including the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California – Criminal Investigative Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Los Angeles Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Diane B. Roldán is prosecuting these cases. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted on all charges, they could face up to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years.