Central Valley Men Indicted for Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy 

May 3, 2026 – SACRAMENTO, CA – A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment Thursday against Ruben Garcia, 49, of Turlock, and his brother-in-law Heriberto Ayala, 48, of Delhi, charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, between November 1, 2025, and April 15, 2026, Garcia and Ayala worked together to sell methamphetamine. During the investigation, law enforcement agents used a confidential source to conduct methamphetamine purchases from Garcia and Ayala in the cities of Turlock and Delhi.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Modesto Police Department, the Stockton High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Campbell is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. 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 Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Source: DOJ Release