Pair Accused of Trying to Sell Cocaine at School
A federal grand jury has indicted two persons with trying to sell half a kilogram of cocaine in the parking lot of a Costa Mesa elementary school.
The indictment returned Tuesday names Steven Nieves, 27, of Fountain Valley, and Valerie Jensen, 23 of Garden Grove, who were arrested Aug. 2 at Killybrooke Elementary School after an undercover investigation by Costa Mesa police, according to Assistant U.S. Atty. Edward R. McGah Jr.
Nieves and Jensen were indicted on charges of conspiracy, aiding in a drug sale and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
A relatively new federal law punishes drug sales within 1,000 feet of a school with a minimum of one year in jail.
“We are concerned with the trafficking of narcotics in schoolyards,” McGah said. “We will continue to use our resources to eradicate this kind of crime.”
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