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(CNN) The executive director of California’s police union has taken a leave of absence after being indicted by the federal government for importing drugs from abroad and distributing them across the country.
Joanne Marian Segovia, 64, ordered thousands of synthetic opioids, including valeryl fentanyl, disguised as chocolate, wedding favors, and cosmetics.
Segovia to serve As executive director of the San Jose Police Officers Association (SJPOA), he allegedly used personal and office computers to order opioids and made shipments using the union’s UPS account, the complaint says.
According to CNN affiliate KGO-TV, Segovia has been executive director of the union representing San Jose Police Department officers for nearly 20 years.
Between October 2015 and January of this year, at least 61 shipments containing narcotics worth thousands of dollars were shipped to a home in Segovia from countries including Hong Kong, Hungary, India and Singapore, according to the complaint. .
The Northern California U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release, “The manifests of these shipments declare their contents with labels such as ‘Wedding Party Favors’, ‘Cosmetic Gifts’ and ‘Chocolate and Sweets’. was doing,” he said.
“However, between July 2019 and January 2023, authorities intercepted and opened five of these shipments, which contained thousands of controlled substances, including the synthetic opioids tramadol and tapentadol. We have found that,” the press release said.
Segovia was questioned by federal agents in February 2023, but continued to order shipments of drugs, including a package containing valeryl fentanyl, seized by federal agents in Kentucky in March, according to the complaint. .
According to the complaint, Segovia has been charged with trying to illegally import valeryl fentanyl, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
A lawyer for Segovia did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
San Jose Police Association spokesperson Tom Sagou told CNN in a statement that Segovia was on vacation and all access to the police association was cut off. I was not involved and did not know about this plan.
“Last Friday, we were informed by federal officials that one of our civilian employees was under investigation for distribution of a controlled substance. We are working with them,” Saggau said. “The Board of Directors is saddened and dismayed to hear this news and has pledged to provide its full support to investigative authorities.”
CNN’s Paradise Afshar and Andy Babineau contributed to this report.
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