Sacramento, California – A federal indictment unsealed this week outlines serious drug trafficking and firearms charges against a Sacramento resident accused of possessing a large quantity of fentanyl while armed with loaded handguns.
According to Department of Justice, a grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Roberto Hernandez, 35, a Mexican national who authorities say was living in Sacramento unlawfully at the time of the alleged offenses.
The charges include possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The announcement was made by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
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Court records state that on Sept. 2, 2025, law enforcement officers found Hernandez in possession of at least 400 grams of fentanyl along with two loaded Glock handguns. Prosecutors allege the firearms were connected to drug trafficking activity. Because of prior felony convictions in California, Hernandez was legally barred from possessing firearms at the time of the alleged incident.
Those earlier convictions include reckless evasion of a peace officer causing injury, driving under the influence causing injury, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a controlled substance. Federal authorities say those convictions make the current firearms allegations particularly serious under federal law.
The indictment also follows earlier immigration-related proceedings involving Hernandez. Court documents show that he was deported from the United States in May 2021. Despite that removal, prosecutors allege he later returned to the country without authorization. On Nov. 6, 2025, Hernandez was charged in a separate federal indictment for being a previously deported alien found in the United States.
The investigation that led to the drug and firearms charges was conducted by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys assigned through a partnership between federal prosecutors and local district attorney’s offices, a program designed to strengthen coordination between state and federal law enforcement.
If convicted on the drug trafficking and firearms charges, Hernandez faces a potential maximum sentence of life in federal prison and fines that could reach $10 million. Prosecutors emphasized, however, that any sentence would ultimately be determined by a judge after considering federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Federal officials also stressed that the charges outlined in the indictment are allegations only. As in all criminal cases, Hernandez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
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The case is being pursued as part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, a multi-agency effort focused on dismantling transnational criminal organizations, violent gangs, and drug trafficking networks operating within the United States. Authorities say the task force combines resources from multiple federal and local agencies to identify and prosecute individuals believed to pose significant threats to public safety, particularly those involved in narcotics distribution and violent crime in Northern California.