Emilio Hernandez Yesca, a 31-year-old resident of Madera, has been sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
The charges stemmed from an investigation into a drug trafficking organization led by Hernandez and his co-defendant Jorge Perez, aged 28, also from Madera. Between October 2020 and March 2021, the pair conspired to distribute large quantities of fentanyl pills and methamphetamine. Their activities included selling 1,400 fentanyl pills in two separate transactions during October and November 2020, followed by the sale of a pound of methamphetamine in February 2021. On March 2, law enforcement intercepted them while they were en route to deliver 5,000 fentanyl pills and three pounds of methamphetamine. A loaded firearm was found under the driver’s seat during the stop.
Jorge Perez received a sentence of 11 years and 10 months on January 27, 2025.
The investigation was conducted by several agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Chowchilla Police Department, Madera Police Department, and the Madera Narcotics Enforcement Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.
This case falls under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative which aims to dismantle high-level criminal organizations using a collaborative approach involving multiple agencies. More information about OCDETF can be found at Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Additionally, this case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), which seeks to reduce synthetic opioid supply in critical areas while identifying distribution networks and suppliers both domestically and internationally. S.O.S., launched in July 2018 by the Justice Department, is active in the Eastern District of California along with nine other federal districts.
