SAN FRANCISCO—On Wednesday, May 14, the SFDA’s Office announced that Jefferson Arrechaba, 31, has been charged with multiple felonies in connection with narcotics trafficking in the Tenderloin District.
He was arraigned on May 13 and pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied all allegations. He is charged with one count of possession for sale of fentanyl (H&S 11351), one count of possession for sale of heroin (H&S 11351), one count of possession for sale of methamphetamine (H&S 11378) and one count of possession for sale of a designated controlled substance – alprazolam (H&S 11375(b)(1)). The criminal complaint also includes an allegation that he possessed a substance containing more than one kilogram of fentanyl (H&S 11370.4(c)(1)(D)) and that Arrechaba was released on his own recognizance at the time of the charged offense on a pending felony case (PC 12022.1(b)).
According to court documents on May 8, at approximately 10:40 p.m., on the 600 block of McAllister Street, officers with the San Francisco Police Department witnessed the defendant allegedly holding a clear plastic bag containing suspected narcotics. The police saw him allegedly make quick furtive hand movements between himself and several other people who were loitering on the block.
Authorities also saw him allegedly displaying hypervigilance. When officers moved to detain the defendant, he threw a car key into the bushes. The police searched Arrechaba and found: 87.7 grams (gg) of suspected Fentanyl, $2,169 in U.S. currency, empty baggies and a cell phone. The police retrieved the car key and used it to open a blue Honda CR-V that was parked on the west side of Gough Street just south of McAllister Street.
Officers searched the vehicle and found over one kilogram of suspected fentanyl as well as 389.3 grams of suspected heroin, 32.1 grams of suspected Alprazolam, 437.2 grams of Methamphetamine and four black digital scales.
The District Attorney’s Office moved to have Arrechaba detained pending trial because of the public safety risk he poses. The court set no bail without prejudice, and he remains in custody. His next court date is May 23, for the preliminary hearing in the case.
The SFPD is still investigating the case. Anyone with details can contact the Tip Line at 415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
