(InEDC) U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California — A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment today against Kamaal Yusuf, 22, of West Sacramento, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of an unregistered short-barrel rifle, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in May 2022 Yusuf was conspiring to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl in El Dorado, Sacramento, and Yolo Counties. On three occasions, twice in Sacramento County and once in Yolo County, he distributed fentanyl pills. Yusuf also possessed another 400 grams of fentanyl in Yolo County. Yusuf, who is a previously convicted felon, is also charged with illegally possessing a Glock handgun and an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
This case is the product of an investigation by the West El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Yusuf faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and a $10 million fine for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl; a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for distribution of fentanyl; and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered short-barrel rifle. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
“Yusuf is also pending trial accused of selling counterfeit pills containing fentanyl to a Shingle Springs couple that resulted in the death of 20-year-old Gillian Peterson-Murray”
