Perris Man 'Found With Tens Of Thousands Of Fentanyl Pills' Charged With Possession

PERRIS, CA — A 49-year-old man accused of selling fentanyl-laced drugs out of his Perris home, where authorities seized tens of thousands of pills, was charged Monday with possession of controlled substances for sale and other offenses.

Ignacio Gomez Lares Jr. was arrested last week following a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation.

Along with the possession count, Lares was charged with transportation of drugs for sale, being a felon in possession of ammunition and sentencing- enhancing allegations of perpetrating a felony while on bail and possessing more than four kilograms of fentanyl.

Lares, who is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail at the Byrd Detention Center, was slated to make his initial court appearance Monday afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

According to sheriff's Sgt. David Ruiz, earlier this month, the agency's Special Enforcement Team initiated an investigation at a residence in the 3000 block of Lakeview Drive, near East Rider Street, on the east end of the city. Sufficient evidence was gathered for procurement of a search warrant, which was served on Lares last Wednesday night.

"During the warrant service, deputies located over 50,000 counterfeit M-30 pills," Ruiz said. "Lares was arrested without incident."

The pills -- also known as "blues" -- were contained in multiple plastic bags confiscated by deputies. M-30s often contain fentanyl and other synthetic substances.

"Operations like this one are critical in addressing repeat offenders and deterring narcotic use," Ruiz said.

It was unclear how long the alleged drug trafficking had occurred at the property.

Court records indicated that Lares has one prior strike felony, but the conviction wasn't specified. There was also no information on the defendant's previous arrest, for which he posted bond and was released from custody.