TOPEKA — A California man appeared in federal court on Thursday on charges he possessed more than 60 pounds of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Carlos Fernando Fernandez-Gonzalez, 28, Yucaipa, Calif., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The crime is alleged to have occurred May 25, when the Kansas Highway Patrol stopped him in Russell County.
If convicted he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and fine up to $10 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Kansas Highway Patrol investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough is prosecuting.