People v. Fernandez CA4/2

FACTS

A. The Conspiracy

Adrian Fernandez owned a landscaping business in Washington state, where he

also sold illegal drugs, which he obtained from contacts in San Bernardino. In the drug

trade, Fernandez worked for Sergio Lopez Fernandez, the murder victim in this case, who

was a member of a Mexican cartel. We refer to the victim by the name Lopez.

3 1 Martinez and Jorge were low-level drug dealers who lived in Moreno Valley.

Martinez worked for Fernandez. Jorge was a salesman at a shoe store in a mall where

Martinez worked as a security guard. After they met and became friends, Martinez tried

to get Jorge to sell drugs for him. Jorge resisted at first, but eventually arranged for

Martinez to sell him methamphetamine on credit. Jorge would use a portion of the drug

himself and resell the rest to fund his own habit. Martinez introduced Jorge to Fernandez.

Eventually, Fernandez invited Jorge to move into his home, which enmeshed him further

in the drug trade.

In June 2013, Fernandez asked another subordinate, Luis, to drive to Washington

state and pick up some items. Fernandez’s wife, Cecilia, rented a car, and Fernandez gave

it to Luis. While Luis was in…