El Dorado County drug case results in 2 indictments

A federal grand jury returned an indictment Friday against Sacramento residents Benjamin Macias, 37, and Sergio Ambriz, 26, charging them with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distributing cocaine, and distributing methamphetamine in El Dorado and Sacramento counties.

Macias is also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of firearm.

According to court documents, in 2014 and 2015, Macias supplied Ambriz with cocaine and Ambriz sold the cocaine to an undercover agent in the two counties. Ambriz also sold allegedy the undercover agent methamphetamine. When Macias was arrested, a Ruger 9mm pistol was found in his vehicle.

If convicted, Macias faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Ambriz faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and an $8 million fine.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report