Edgar Balderas, a 27-year-old resident of San Diego, California, has been sentenced to 148 months in prison for his involvement in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. This operation distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl from Southern California to various locations across the United States, including Washington D.C. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court.
U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., DEA Special Agent Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, and Inspector Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division announced Balderas's sentence.
Balderas, known as "Nano," pleaded guilty on December 19, 2024, to conspiracy charges involving over 400 grams of fentanyl distribution. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly also ordered him to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.
The investigation into this trafficking network began after the overdose death of Diamond Lynch in Southeast D.C., leading law enforcement agencies to uncover a large-scale operation transporting fentanyl from Mexico through Los Angeles to Washington D.C. As part of their efforts, authorities have seized more than 450,000 fentanyl pills and significant quantities of fentanyl powder and firearms.
Court documents revealed that Balderas worked with a Los Angeles-based trafficker supplying him with fentanyl-laced pills for distribution in Washington D.C. This collaboration lasted until February 2023 when the trafficker was arrested. Following this arrest, Balderas attempted direct dealings with distributors based in Washington D.C., utilizing platforms like Instagram for communication.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, Solomon S. Eppel, and Iris Y. McCranie from the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section.
This investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies including the DEA Washington Division and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division along with support from various field offices and local police departments across different states.