Overview
- A motion and potential trial‑setting hearing is scheduled for November 21 before U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta in San Diego, with the defendant held pending trial.
- Marco Antonio López‑Guerrero pleaded not guilty at his October 27 arraignment, and Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford ordered detention on October 30.
- A July 2020 indictment in case 20cr2054‑JO charges conspiracies to import and distribute methamphetamine, attempted export of defense articles without a license, and smuggling goods, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lawrence A. Casper and Edward Chang.
- Court filings allege the use of young people to move meth through southern California pedestrian ports and an ultralight aircraft to ferry drugs and firearms, including a short‑barreled AR‑15 with no serial number and more than 150 rounds.
- Investigators report seizures totaling over 180 kg of methamphetamine, 19 kg of fentanyl, 2 kg of heroin, and weapons, with DEA, HSI, U.S. Marshals, Border Patrol, HIDTA, and Mexico’s FGR participating; FGR extradited López‑Guerrero on October 24 and has linked him to the Sinaloa Cartel in 2018–2020 records.