A downtown Los Angeles couple allegedly operated an armed fentanyl stash house out of a luxury high-rise apartment containing an exotic reptile, federal prosecutors said.
Marvin Angelito, 27, and Susan Gonzalez, 26, resided on the 45th floor of 230 W. Olympic Blvd, a high-rise downtown apartment building known as Olympic + Hill.
Federal agents arrested the pair Thursday during a raid on the residence, according to the FBI.
They are each charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, prosecutors said.
Investigators said the upscale apartment functioned as a known drug trafficking location. Lesser dealers allegedly visited the high-flying couple to score fentanyl and cocaine, court documents state.
Federal agents had been investigating the duo over the summer, according to court documents.
The bureau got its opportunity after flipping a criminal informant facing federal drug charges of their own against the pair, prosecutors said.
Working with the FBI, the informant arranged to buy 500,000 M30 fentanyl pills from the suspects for $125,000, court filings state.
The drug deal was scheduled for August 21 at their downtown apartment, according to authorities.
Ahead of the transaction, a “show and tell” video call was arranged for the buyer, according to investigators.
Angelito displayed the drugs on screen while a friend appeared on the call to talk about how big-time the pair were, court documents state.
This place is “official,” the friend said on the call, adding that there is some “cartel s—t over here.”
“This is the stash house. They’ve got everything up there,” the friend said on the call.
“They don’t like to let too many people up there. If somebody robs that s—t or something they’ll know who to blame it on.”
“Now you know this s—t is for real,” the friend added.
The deal went down as planned, and federal agents confiscated the narcotics, court records state.
A few weeks later, the FBI executed a search warrant at the couple’s apartment, investigators said.
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Agents took Angelito and Gonzalez into custody during the search, according to authorities.
Inside the residence, federal agents discovered nearly 94 pounds of fentanyl pills and powder, according to prosecutors.
Investigators also seized almost 16 pounds of cocaine from the unit, court documents state.
The search also uncovered more than two pounds of heroin, according to federal authorities.
Agents also found drug-making tools and laboratory equipment inside the apartment, prosecutors said.
The recovered equipment included beakers, mixers, stirrers, torches and a hydraulic press, according to court records.
Federal authorities also discovered multiple firearms in the apartment during the raid, investigators said.
An AR-15 rifle with ammunition was found located in a hallway closet, according to court filings.
A gold-plated Desert Eagle .50-caliber pistol with ammunition was placed on the kitchen counter, authorities said.
Agents also seized a police radio from the high-rise residence, according to court documents.
Federal agents also discovered a small alligator kept inside a glass tank in the apartment, according to authorities.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents responded to the scene and seized the reptile, prosecutors said.
The upscale apartment building featured a pool, panoramic views, fancy common spaces and a posh gaming room. Investigators alleged the suspects operated the luxury space as an armed narcotics trap house.
Angelito and Gonzalez both made their initial court appearances Monday in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles, according to prosecutors.
Judge Karen Stevenson ordered Angelito detained pending trial. Stevenson ordered Gonzalez released on a $15,000 bond, according to court records.
No pleas were entered during the Monday proceeding, federal authorities said.
Angelito’s arraignment is scheduled for October 2, and Gonzalez’s arraignment is scheduled for October 9, prosecutors said.
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