Federal prosecutors have filed charges against Darwin Licona, a 29-year-old man, who was allegedly caught with 2.5 pounds of fentanyl during a traffic stop in Oakland. Court records reveal that Licona has been linked to a raid where 54 pounds of the deadly drug were seized. Licona was indicted this month on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.
The indictment stems from an arrest in June 2023 when patrol officers in Oakland searched a parked car containing Licona and another individual. During the search, law enforcement discovered 2.5 pounds of fentanyl bagged up next to the passenger seat where Licona was seated, according to the criminal complaint.
In addition to the recent arrest, Licona also faces pending state charges related to alleged drug dealing in San Francisco in 2020. Federal prosecutors, in a motion to keep Licona in custody, described him as a self-admitted “professional drug dealer.”
Further details provided by prosecutors indicate that Licona was previously arrested in January at a San Francisco residence, where authorities found a significant amount of illicit substances. The seizure included 54 pounds of fentanyl, 3.7 pounds of methamphetamine, over 16,000 counterfeit Xanax pills, and other suspected drugs. Additionally, more than $13,000 in currency was discovered at the residence. Prosecutors noted that the drugs were found in the common area of the shared residence.
Licona’s attorney has argued for his release to a drug treatment facility in the East Bay, highlighting that he has no prior criminal convictions. However, Licona remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and is not scheduled to appear in court until late March.