A Kern County Jury has found Defendants Ismael Gonzalez Jr. and David Mendoza each guilty of one count of possession for sale of a controlled substance, one count of transportation for sale of a controlled substance, and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime. The jury further found true an allegation that the substance possessed by the defendants contained methamphetamine in excess of twenty (20) kilograms of weight.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy DA Wooyoung Kim.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on January 5, 2026. At approximately 4:00 p.m., deputies from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office performed a traffic stop on the Defendants’ vehicle traveling on southbound Interstate-5 near Lebec after observing several vehicle code infractions including illegal window tint, an illegal lane change, and an invalid license plate. Deputies contacted the driver, David Mendoza, and the passenger, Ismael Gonzalez Jr., before conducting a search of the vehicle which yielded approximately 50 pounds of methamphetamine.
DA Zimmer commented; “Illegal substances are often catalysts for severe violence and devastation within our communities. Holding accountable those who distribute and transport them, especially in such large quantities, is a critical step toward reducing that damage. The scale of drugs involved in this case is significant and under the law, warrants substantial penalties.”
Sentencing is set for May 28, 2026. Both Defendants are both facing up to 19 years in prison