Felony charges have been filed against a now-former California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officer and a suspected drug trafficker following the discovery of 20 kilograms of cocaine at a stash house in Rowland Heights, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
Jesus Reyes, a 45-year-old former CDCR employee, and Jose Luis Aldahir Rocha Luque, 27, are charged with one count each of transportation of a controlled substance from one county to another, possession of a controlled substance for sale and conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Luque allegedly rented a home in Rowland Heights in June 2023 to use the residence to store cocaine, and Reyes allegedly transported cocaine from Mexico to the home on Aug. 1, 2023, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Investigators discovered 20 kilograms of cocaine and nearly $200,000 in cash at the home, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Reyes — who began his career with the CDCR as a cadet at the Richard A. McGee Correctional Training Center in Galt in July 2007 and reported to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Training Facility in October 2007 — resigned Thursday and is no longer employed by the CDCR, according to a statement from the CDCR.
“CDCR resolutely condemns any staff member — especially a peace officer who is trusted to enforce the law — who violates their oath and shatters the trust of the public and their colleagues,” according to the statement.
In a statement announcing the charges, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said, “It is reprehensible that a state corrections officer can be seduced by greed and manipulated by others to commit such crimes that endanger the public,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement announcing the charges. “We have someone who is accused of betraying the badge and the oath he swore to uphold working hand-in-hand with a suspected drug trafficker who is part of a criminal enterprise. Corruption will be prosecuted — no matter where we find it.”
The case stemmed from an investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
If convicted as charged, the two could each face up to 20 years and four months in county jail, according to the District Attorney’s Office.