Article

2022-07-22 -Lurid Crime Tales-

California alleged drug traffickers in massive fentanyl bust no shows in court after release on cashless bail

[FoxNews] Washington men Jose Zendejas and Benito Madrigal classified 'low risk,' released despite $750,000 fentanyl seizure during traffic stop.

Two accused drug traffickers busted with 150,000 fentanyl pills during a California traffic stop last month failed to show in court Thursday after being released on cashless bail.

Defendants Jose Zendejas, 25, and Benito Madrigal, 19 — released on their own recognizance less than 24 hours after their arrest with the large stash of illicit drugs — were scheduled to appear for their arraignments at the Tulare County Courthouse in central California on Thursday morning, but failed both men failed to show.

The judge called for Zendejas and Madrigal — both from Washington state — who were not in court, and the warrant for their arrest continues.

The judge withdrew the prior $2 million bond and directed each be held without bond if they pop up.

Before Thursday, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said he did not expect the defendants to show up. He placed blame on the state’s soft-on-crime attitude and so-called criminal justice reform for a policy that allowed the two alleged drug traffickers to go free with nothing but a promise to come to court.

"I didn't learn about the order until it was far too late," Boudreaux previously told Fox News. "I couldn't believe we had 150,00 fentanyl pills — one of the most dangerous epidemics facing our nation today — with people in custody that we may potentially be able to impact the future of this type of drug trafficking organization… and we let them go."

"Although there is a need for a pre-trial release program, to do it covertly in the middle of the night in a very nontransparent matter is extremely dangerous," Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward told Fox News on Thursday outside the courthouse, referring to the court’s initial decision to release the defendants. "What we discovered here was that it was occurring based on a decision without any foundation of the facts of the case. And I think going forward, I think everyone is realizing that’s a mistake and should not continue."

"The problem is once again the legislature and the state of California are trying to go down some social experiment born on the back of law-abiding citizens," Ward said. "I go out on a limb and say that had these defendants been subject to the million bail that was in place when they were arrested, and they made bail based on that amount, they would have some skin in the game, some financial obligation and motivation to return to court."

California Highway Patrol officers pulled over the suspects’ vehicle on June 24 at approximately 7:30 p.m. near Highway 99 and Tulare Avenue and requested assistance from the Tulare County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit (HIDTA), which found 150 packages, each package containing 1,000 fentanyl pills, inside.

Neither the district attorney nor the sheriff said they were consulted on the release.

Posted by Skidmark 2022-07-22 00:00|| || Front Page|| [18 views ] Top
File under: Narcos

Posted by Mullah Richard 2022-07-22 06:57|| 2022-07-22 06:57|| Front Page Top

#2 They'll show up eventually. Likely with their head in a ziploc bag. Cartels don't like careless traffickers who have incentive to talk

Posted by Frank G 2022-07-22 07:34|| 2022-07-22 07:34|| Front Page Top

#3 Somebody may have figured that out, Frank. Perhaps one of the Cartel 'insiders' within the law enforcement community transmitted the where and when for the releases (but then I do go to the dark side in some of my thoughts).

Will save the state a bit of cash for incarceration, court costs, etc.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2022-07-22 07:44|| 2022-07-22 07:44|| Front Page Top

#4
So a judge released Jose Zendejas, and Benito Madrigal based on their word as "honest citizens" that they would appear? But when they failed to show, then somehow the judge "withdrew a prior $2 million bond".

Was it a Virtual $2 Million bond ????

I guess someone in California needs to explain that one to me?

But given it is California, will Tulare County hold a abandoned property sale and sell the 150,000 fentanyl pills to the highest "Honest citizen"?

Posted by NN2N1 2022-07-22 08:25|| 2022-07-22 08:25|| Front Page Top

#5 Exhibit #53,529 on why California is such a failed shithole of a state.

Posted by DarthVader 2022-07-22 10:00|| 2022-07-22 10:00|| Front Page Top

#6 Good thing these fentanyl drug dealers weren't at the Jan. 6 Reichstag fire, they would have really been in big trouble.

Posted by JohnQC 2022-07-22 10:15|| 2022-07-22 10:15|| Front Page Top

#7 Frank is probably right, they lost alot of money.

Posted by Chris 2022-07-22 10:49|| 2022-07-22 10:49|| Front Page Top

#8 They lost inventory not money. If 10 percent or less is found, the massive wave of the stuff that Biden has promoted cannot be actually be being consumed or every town in America would look like SF - the final goal. The soldiers are probably worth more to the drug lords than the raw materials. That said - if they try to run they are dead.

Posted by Super Hose 2022-07-22 12:04|| 2022-07-22 12:04|| Front Page Top

#9 As we used to say in the rag business, That truckload was worth 2 bucks wholesale. The people planning to profit huge on it are in LA.

Posted by M. Murcek 2022-07-22 12:06|| 2022-07-22 12:06|| Front Page Top

#10 Think what you want, those drug smugglers are a dime a dozen. mistakes aren't tolerated in the drug game at any level. You have your knowledge of things and so do I.

Posted by Chris 2022-07-22 15:24|| 2022-07-22 15:24|| Front Page Top

#11 fwiw, this is a very Republican county

3 Republican Congressman split parts of this county (districts run into other counties)

Trump carried county by about 8% over Biden.

Judge is apparently just executing State 'low bail/no bail' law.

Also, the release of the Fentanyl mules was three weeks ago.

Wonder what is taking place behind the scene.

Posted by Lord Garth 2022-07-22 18:29|| 2022-07-22 18:29|| Front Page Top

15:49 Secret Master
15:34 irish+rage+boy
15:30 M. Murcek
15:29 M. Murcek
15:18 Super Hose
15:15 Huputle+Cherelet4131
15:00 Chesney+Sleting4519
14:55 DooDahMan
14:53 DooDahMan
14:50 Super Hose
14:41 Super Hose
14:38 Glenmore
14:35 Glenmore
14:35 Super Hose
14:31 Super Hose
14:29 Super Hose
14:28 NoMoreBS
14:25 Super Hose
14:14 Super Hose
14:06 Super Hose
14:04 Super Hose
14:03 NoMoreBS
14:00 Super Hose
13:57 Jefe101