United States Drug Enforcement Administration

FRESNO, Calif. - - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Raymond Slaton, 43, of Merced; Sidney Allen, 48, of Merced; Donnell Mays, 39, of Turlock; and Omar Lopez, 22, of Turlock, charging them with federal drug trafficking offenses.

According to court documents, on May 20, 2015, Mays and Lopez went to Allen’s residence where they delivered a half kilogram of cocaine to Allen and Slaton. Mays and Lopez then left the residence in a car in possession of another half kilogram of cocaine. As law enforcement officers attempted to stop Lopez’s car for a vehicle code violation, Lopez failed to yield. While Mays and Lopez were pursued by patrol units from the Merced Police Department, a bag containing the half kilogram of cocaine was thrown from their car. After a high‑speed chase, Mays and Lopez were arrested.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Department of Justice, the Merced Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Merced Gang Task Force, and the Merced Narcotic Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly A. Sanchez and Daniel Griffin are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Slaton, Mays and Allen face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, and a $10 million fine. Lopez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.