Tulare County sheriff appears on Fox News, criticizes release of suspected fentanyl runners

The aftermath of a large-scale drug bust left Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux calling for California crime reform. 

"We need to be hard on crime, holding people who commit criminal acts accountable for everything that they do," Boudreaux said during a televised Fox News segment. 

The case that caused the sheriff's frustration was reported Friday night in Tulare. 

Just before 7:30 p.m., Tulare County sheriff's investigators were called by California Highway Patrol officers to help with a traffic stop. CHP stopped the suspects' vehicle near Highway 99 and Tulare Avenue, according to sheriff's officials. 

During their investigation, the Tulare County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit (HIDTA) found 150 packages, each package contained 1,000 fentanyl pills. 

According to sheriff's officials, each pill sells for roughly $5, making the street value of the seizure $750,000.

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Jose Zendejas, 25, and Benito Madrigal, 19, both of Washington, were arrested and booked into Tulare County Pretrial Facility. 

On Monday, the sheriff's department received a court order releasing both men from jail. The order was handed down by Commissioner Mikki Verissimo after looking at a probation report. 

Although Boudreaux said he "strongly disagreed" with the release of Madrigal and Zendejas, the court order must be followed.

"I didn't learn about the order until it was far too late," Boudreaux told Fox News anchors. "I couldn't believe we had 150,00 fentanyl pills — one of the most dangerous epidemics facing our nation today, with people in custody that we may potentially be able to impact the future of this type of drug trafficking organization… and we let them go." 

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Inmates are evaluated through the probation department's Risk Assessment Process. The assessment is forwarded to a Tulare County commissioner or judge, who determines whether the suspect should be held on bail or if they can be released.

In the assessment, released by the superior court Wednesday, neither suspect was considered dangerous and neither had prior violent felony convictions.

However, the suspect still face charges of possession, transportation and sales of drugs. They've been ordered to appear in court, but sheriff's officials fear the men have fled the country.

As of Wednesday morning, the case hadn't been submitted to the Tulare County District Attorney's Office for review.

Boudreaux said his detectives have information that Madrigal and Zendejas may have connections in Mexico and called for stricter border control.  

"Our justice system needs reform. We definitely need our boarders secure," he said. "This has nothing to do with immigration issue; this has to do with security and protection of our country."

Fentanyl is typically brought in from China, produced in Mexico and smuggled into the U.S., according to law enforcement officials. 

Fentanyl deaths over the last three years don't involve prescription fentanyl. Overdoses are instead linked with illicitly-made fentanyl and sold as counterfeit pills, the Centers for Disease Control reports. 

Anyone with information regarding Friday's investigation is urged to call Sgt. Neil Skrinde or Detective Jeff Dowling at 733-6218. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling or texting 725-4194 or through email at tcso@tipnow.com.