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United States of America v. Benito Lopez
Date: 07-25-2025
Case Number:
Judge:
Court: The United States District Court for the Southern District of California (San Diego County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in San Diego
Defendant's Attorney: Click Here For The Best San Diego, California, California Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory
San Diego, California criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Possessing Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Unlawful Firearm Possession
San Diego Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Unlawful Firearm Possession
Benito Lopez of San Diego pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute more than two kilograms of cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Lopez admitted the nearly $60,000 that investigators seized from his residence were drug dealing proceeds and has agreed to forfeit that money to the United States.
Officers with the San Diego Police Department's Gang Suppression Unit were conducting surveillance at a residence occupied by Lopez. While surveilling the residence, officers observed Lopez approach three different vehicles to conduct what appeared to be hand-to-hand transactions in less than an hour. During each transaction, Lopez exchanged small white objects for money with the occupants of each vehicle.
A subsequent traffic stop of Lopez's vehicle revealed him to be in possession of multiple bags containing golf-ball sized amounts of cocaine. At the time of the traffic stop, Lopez was on parole for a state drug trafficking conviction and subject to search as a condition of his parole. Investigators with the San Diego Police Department conducted a parole search of Lopez's residence and found two additional kilograms of cocaine, digital scales, empty plastic baggies, a loaded firearm .40 caliber Smith & Wesson firearm, and $59,246.00.
As part of his plea agreement, Lopez admitted he intended to distribute the cocaine seized from his residence and that the cash investigators found was money he made selling drugs. Lopez further admitted to knowingly possessing the loaded Smith & Wesson firearm despite previously being convicted of a felony crime, including a 2023 conviction for unlawful firearm possession and a 2024 conviction for possession of cocaine for sale, as alleged in the criminal complaint.
Maximum Penalty: Forty years in prison with a minimum of five years in prison and a $5 million fine
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Benito Lopez?
The outcome was: Maximum Penalty: Forty years in prison with a minimum of five years in prison and a $5 million fine
Which court heard United States of America v. Benito Lopez?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the Southern District of California (San Diego County), CA.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Benito Lopez?
Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in San Diego. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best San Diego, California, California Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Benito Lopez decided?
This case was decided on July 25, 2025.