A twice-deported drug dealer who returned to peddle fentanyl and methamphetamine in San Francisco “so that he could finish building his house in Honduras” was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment today in federal court.
Bayron Flores was ensnared in a Drug Enforcement Administration sting operation in early 2022 – selling drugs to undercover agents and speaking in wiretapped phone conversations about the merits of his wares, his plans to skip court, and his desire to “hustle” for another two months to raise up to half a million dollars.
Flores, 33, had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute. More than half a kilo of fentanyl was found during a search of his home.
“He operated as a dealer, of what we know is a very dangerous drug in this community, over an extended period of time,” said Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg. “He has to take personal responsibility for the damage to the community that was being done by his activities.”
Flores came to the attention of federal authorities in February 2022 when he offered to sell various “colors” of fentanyl to an undercover DEA agent. One month later – during two ‘controlled buys’ – he sold the agent 2 ounces each of methamphetamine and fentanyl, the latter being, prosecutors told the court, “28,500 potentially lethal doses” of the drug.
He was subsequently recorded in a wiretapped phone conversation discussing a state court case he had in Marin County involving an entire kilo of narcotics. On the call he said that he was not going to turn up to that hearing because it was not in a “sanctuary” location and he feared he would be deported. He said he was going to move house and “hustle” for two more months in order to raise up to half a million dollars “so that he could finish building his house in Honduras, and then he would take off for Honduras”. Flores also confirmed that he had obtained a passport from the Honduran consulate.
On other wiretapped calls he discussed “the distribution of narcotics, including fentanyl, throughout San Francisco.”
Since 2018 Flores has twice been deported to Honduras only to return on each occasion. In addition to his Marin case he also had an open case in San Francisco.
Remarkably, Flores industriousness extended to liaising with drug customers while present in state court waiting for another of his cases to be heard.
It also transpired that Flores’ product offering changed depending on where he was selling. He told the DEA undercover agent that he sold two types of fentanyl – “one type in San Francisco and another type that was high quality.”
Flores earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin pursuant to a plea agreement whereby the Government committed to recommending a prison term at the “low end” of the sentencing guidelines.
The government asked the court to impose a sentence of 87 months. The defense asked for a 30 month sentence, praying in aid Flores’ difficult childhood, impoverished upbringing and struggle with addiction. It was noted that he had been in custody since his arrest on June 2, 2022.
“I am sorry to the entire community of San Francisco for all the damage I’ve caused,” Flores told the court this morning through an interpreter. “Only by going through all this have I been able to realize all the damage I’ve caused to the community, but also to my family, and my own self.”
Sentencing Flores to 48 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by deportation, Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg stressed that he must not return to the United States.
“It does cause me some concern – that the message has not gotten through to Mr Flores…he can’t come back…if he comes back it’s going to get worse for him every time he does that.”
“He operated as a dealer, of what we know is a very dangerous drug in this community, over an extended period of time. He has to take personal responsibility for the damage to the community that was being done by his activities.”
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