Fountain Valley police arrest Garden Grove man on narcotics charges

Fountain Valley police arrested a Garden Grove man last week on suspicion of drug possession with intent to sell.

Rigoberto De Jesus Morales, 22, was taken into custody on April 13 after police executed a search warrant on his vehicle and home in connection with an ongoing narcotics investigation, authorities said Wednesday.

As part of the investigation, the Fountain Valley police department’s crime suppression unit assembled information that indicated an armed individual in the area was involved in drug trafficking, Fountain Valley police Sgt. Robert Cortes said.

Morales was alleged to have been in possession of 1,309 Oxycodone, 614 Adderall, 80 LSD tablets and 3.5 ounces of marijuana. The narcotics were discovered during a search of Morales’ Garden Grove residence, Cortes said.

Morales also had a loaded Ruger-57 firearm (semiautomatic pistol), additional magazines and close to $12,000 that was alleged to be proceeds from narcotics sales, Cortes added.

Authorities said the pills identified as Oxycodone had the appearance of the drug, but they were made from fentanyl that had been pressed into the shape of Oxycodone pills.

Morales pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, possessing that substance while armed with a firearm, ownership of ammunition as a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm with a prior juvenile adjudication. He also faces a misdemeanor of possession of cannabis for sale.

Jail records show that Morales was released after posting a bond of $50,000 on April 16. He is scheduled to appear again in court on April 29, with a preliminary hearing set for May 4.

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