Ramon Maldonado Jr., a 33-year-old resident of Bakersfield, has pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to distribute various drugs including fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, psilocybin, and marijuana. The plea was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that on August 10, 2023, law enforcement conducted a federal search at a residence in Bakersfield, which operated as a stash house. This location was set up to sell psychedelic drugs and marijuana. During the search, authorities found a stolen firearm in the sales area. Maldonado was discovered in one of the bedrooms. Agents located psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana wax and edibles, as well as heroin, fentanyl, and a Ruger .22‑caliber rifle in his possession. Additional drugs, including a kilogram of fentanyl, were found in another bedroom. Methamphetamine was found in the kitchen alongside five semi-automatic pistol magazines.
The total seizure by agents included 5.5 pounds of fentanyl, 25.9 pounds of psilocybin, 23.4 pounds of marijuana, 20 ounces of heroin, and 1.15 ounces of methamphetamine.
The investigation was carried out by the Drug Enforcement Administration with help from the Kern County Probation Office Gang Unit and the Bakersfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar.
Maldonado's sentencing is scheduled for August 4, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment, in addition to a $10 million fine. The final sentence will be decided by the court based on statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The investigation is part of the efforts of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a program focused on dismantling high-level criminal organizations through a collaborative approach. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OCDETF.