A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment against David Joseph Yama, 41, of Reedley, California, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith. Yama is facing additional charges, including possession of alprazolam (Xanax) with intent to distribute, three counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition, and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense.
Yama was previously charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl in the original indictment.
Court documents reveal that on September 1, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to a gas station in Clovis after a report of suspicious activity. They encountered Yama and two associates and conducted a search of the car Yama was driving. The search uncovered cash, ammunition, plastic baggies, fentanyl vials, over 200 fentanyl pills, and more than 100 alprazolam pills. A subsequent search of Yama’s residence revealed additional controlled substances and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. In January 2021, Yama was again stopped while driving the same vehicle, leading to the seizure of more alprazolam pills, ammunition, and a ghost gun. Prior to September 2020, Yama had previous convictions for five felony drug trafficking and firearms offenses, restricting him from firearm possession.
The case is a result of an investigation conducted by several law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and local police departments. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Karen A. Escobar.
If found guilty on drug trafficking charges, Yama could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $1 million for each count. For carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug offense, he faces a mandatory consecutive five-year sentence, with a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. Any sentence will be determined by the court, considering statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The charges are currently allegations, and Yama is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), an initiative launched in July 2018 by the Justice Department to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids and identify distribution networks. It is also under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, which aims to reduce violent crime by targeting the most serious offenders and collaborating with prevention and reentry programs.