A Red Bluff resident, Austreberto Santamaria-Valencia, 29, received a prison sentence of four years and three months. The sentencing, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith, was delivered by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. The charges included possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Court documents reveal that on February 6, 2021, law enforcement responded to a suspected overdose report in a Red Bluff motel. Officers found Santamaria-Valencia unconscious in a chair. Discoveries in the room included multiple plastic bags containing tablets resembling counterfeit oxycodone pills, often laced with fentanyl. Upon questioning, Santamaria-Valencia admitted to ingesting fentanyl. Medical staff confirmed he was not at overdose risk. Officers then discovered an outstanding warrant for Santamaria-Valencia's arrest, leading to his detainment.
A subsequent search of Santamaria-Valencia’s belongings uncovered approximately 1,000 counterfeit M-30 oxycodone pills, a loaded Taurus G3C 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, 170 Farmapram (alprazolam-Xanax) pills, suboxone strips, marijuana, cash, and other items associated with narcotics sales.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the Red Bluff Police Department, and the Tehama County District Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly prosecuted the case.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through law enforcement partnerships and community engagement. In May 2021, a violent crime reduction strategy enhanced PSN’s effectiveness by emphasizing community trust, supporting anti-violence organizations, and setting enforcement priorities.
Additionally, the case is linked to Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative started in 2019. Project Guardian focuses on reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws by coordinating federal, state, and local efforts. It also improves information-sharing about attempts by prohibited individuals to purchase firearms and prioritizes federal resources toward high-threat criminals. More details about Project Guardian are available at www.justice.gov/projectguardian.