Taft Man Indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for Conspiring with Others to Distribute Methamphetamine

FRESNO, CA—A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against David Edward Hampton Jr., 34, resident of Taft, California, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, David Hampton conspired with other individuals to distribute pound quantities of methamphetamine that he secured in California for distribution in South Dakota. Hampton would regularly use the U.S. mail to deliver his methamphetamine to South Dakota.

Hampton was arrested on Tuesday March 25, 2014, at his residence in Taft, California, at the time agents and police executed a search warrant at the property.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the Bakersfield Police Department, the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, the Kern County Probation Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Delaney is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Hampton faces a maximum statutory penalty of no less than 10 years up to life in prison and a $5,000,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.