Feds Seize 94 Pounds Fentanyl, Alligator in L.A. Apartment
Feds Seize 94 Pounds Fentanyl, Alligator in L.A. Apartment
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Key Points
1
The apartment was on the 45th floor of the Olympic + Hill high-rise at 230 W. Olympic Blvd.; comparable one-bedroom units in the building can rent for more than $3,000 a month.
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The controlled purchase was arranged through an FBI confidential source who agreed to pay $125,000 for 500,000 M30 fentanyl pills; court documents identified alleged trafficker Anthony Rea as involved in the transaction.
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The seized processing equipment included laboratory beakers, mixers, stirrers, torches and an industrial hydraulic press, indicating the apartment allegedly contained tools for handling or processing drugs in addition to storing them.
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The weapons were found in specific locations: the AR-15 rifle and ammunition were in a hallway closet, while the gold-plated Desert Eagle .50-caliber pistol and ammunition were on the kitchen counter; agents also recovered a police radio.
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The defendants’ next court appearances were scheduled separately, with Angelito set for arraignment on Oct. 2 and Gonzalez on Oct. 9; the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lloyd Masson of the General Crimes Section.
Federal agents raided a luxury downtown Los Angeles apartment and arrested two people for running an alleged fentanyl stash house. Marvin Angelito, 27, and Susan Gonzalez, 26, face charges of possessing fentanyl for distribution after authorities seized about 93.9 pounds of fentanyl, 15.9 pounds of cocaine, and 2.2 pounds of heroin from the 45th-floor unit, according to Yahoo News.
The raid also uncovered an AR-15 rifle, a gold-plated Desert Eagle handgun, drug-processing equipment, and a small alligator. Angelito was ordered detained pending trial. Gonzalez was released on $15,000 bond. Both face up to life in prison if convicted, The Independent reported.
From Controlled Buy to Full Apartment Search
The investigation started with an FBI confidential source who agreed to buy 500,000 M30 fentanyl pills for $125,000, according to court documents. Yahoo News reported that alleged trafficker Anthony Rea was involved in arranging the transaction. This controlled purchase gave federal agents enough evidence to obtain a search warrant for the apartment at 230 W. Olympic Blvd.
The 45th-floor unit sits in the Olympic + Hill high-rise, where comparable one-bedroom apartments rent for more than $3,000 per month. Federal agents raided the luxury space and found one of the largest drug seizures in recent Los Angeles history.
Guns, Drugs, and An Unexpected Reptile
Agents discovered two firearms placed in different rooms. The AR-15 rifle and ammunition sat in a hallway closet. On the kitchen counter, they found a gold-plated Desert Eagle .50-caliber handgun with ammunition, Yahoo News stated. A police radio was also recovered during the search.
Perhaps the most unusual discovery was a small alligator inside the apartment. Wildlife officials removed the animal. The bizarre combination of a deadly fentanyl operation and exotic pet raised questions about how the defendants used the space.
Processing Equipment Suggests Active Drug Operation
Beyond just storing drugs, the apartment contained tools for handling and processing them. Authorities seized laboratory beakers, mixers, stirrers, torches, and an industrial hydraulic press, Visalia Times Delta reported. This equipment indicates the defendants may have been actively preparing or packaging drugs for sale.
The three types of drugs seized — fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin — suggest the operation dealt in multiple substances. Combined with the processing equipment and two loaded firearms, prosecutors say the evidence shows a sophisticated, armed drug distribution network operating from the heart of downtown Los Angeles.
What Comes Next for the Defendants
Marvin Angelito was ordered held without bail pending trial. His arraignment is scheduled for October 2. Susan Gonzalez was released on a $15,000 bond with an October 9 arraignment date. Neither defendant has entered a plea yet.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lloyd Masson is prosecuting the case. If convicted on all charges, each defendant could face up to life in federal prison. The case marks one of the largest fentanyl seizures in Los Angeles in recent years.
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