Man pleads guilty to heroin possession, intent to distribute: US DOJ

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A Mexican national living in Bakersfield pleaded guilty Monday to possession of heroin with intent to distribute it and faces at least 10 years in prison, according to federal prosecutors.

Antonio Beltran-Chaidez, 54, pleaded guilty to the federal charge and awaits sentencing in August. Beltran-Chaidez faces a minimum 10-year prison sentence and a maximum of life in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of California said in a statement.

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According to prosecutors, Antonio Beltran-Chaidez recruited his 66-year-old brother, Jose, to take 2 pounds of heroin to Jorge Calderon-Campos, 43, so Calderon-Campos could sell it. Calderon-Campos could not sell the drugs and returned them to Jose Beltran-Chaidez, but Jose Beltran-Chaidez was stopped by law enforcement for a traffic violation allegedly in possession of the drugs.

Caldreon-Campos, Jose Beltran-Chaidez and two others await a court date on May 13.

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