United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Julius Rucks, 41, of Butte County, pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of distributing fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris announced.

According to court documents, on Dec. 6, 2018, Jan. 10, 2019, and April 3, 2019, Rucks sold a total of 1,000 counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets that were found to contain fentanyl to an undercover agent.

Rucks is set to be sentenced on Feb. 6, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. Rucks faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will 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.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Butte County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron L. Desmond is prosecuting the case.