ARREST OF DRUG TRAFFICKER TARGETING JUVENILES

In April 2024, detectives with the Santa Rosa Police Department Property Crimes Investigations Team (PCI) began investigating 32-year-old Cotati resident, Alvaro Hurtado-Diaz, for the sale and trafficking of controlled substances.

As the investigation progressed, evidence suggested Hurtado-Diaz was likely targeting juveniles as potential customers. The controlled substances Hurtado-Diaz was selling included marijuana, THC vape pens, psilocybin mushrooms, and cocaine. Hurtado-Diaz was primarily selling controlled substances through social media applications commonly used by teenagers such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Telegram. Hurtado-Diaz accepted payments through other social media applications such as CashApp and Venmo.

In early May 2024, PCI detectives obtained search warrants for Hurtado-Diaz’s person, property, vehicles, and two residences associated with him.

On May 8, 2024, detectives observed Hurtado-Diaz picking up a person at an access gate in the rear of a Sonoma County high school. Based on the location and time of day, the detectives believed this may have been a juvenile student. Concerned Hurtado-Diaz was likely about to furnish the juvenile with controlled substances, the detectives conducted a traffic stop on Hurtado-Diaz’s and detained him without incident.

With Hurtado-Diaz detained, detectives served search warrants on Hurtado-Diaz’s vehicles and residences. Marijuana, THC vape pens, and cocaine packaged for sales were located in his vehicle. A search of Hurtado-Diaz’s residence in the 6900 block of Highway 116 in Cotati located extensive marijuana products, edibles, THC vape pens, cocaine, and psilocybin mushrooms. Detectives determined the substances were for the purpose of sales. Several firearms, including an AR-15 assault weapon and a stolen handgun, were located during the service of the search warrants. A search of a residence in the 300 block of Duncan Drive, Windsor, did not uncover any evidence or contraband relevant to this investigation.

Hurtado-Diaz was booked into Sonoma County MADF for the following felony offenses:

11380 HS – Solicit Controlled Substances to Minor
11380.1(a)(3) HS – Solicit Controlled Substances to Minor Enhancement (4+ Years)
11361(b) HS – Furnish Minors with Marijuana
11378 HS – Possess Controlled Substances for Sales
11351 HS – Possess Narcotics for Sales
11366 HS – Dwelling for Narcotics Sales
496(a) PC – Possess Stolen Firearm
273a(a) PC – Child Endangerment
30605(a) PC – Possess Assault Weapon

Detectives are continuing to follow up on this case, including identifying and contacting additional juveniles who may have been targeted targeted by Hurtado-Diaz for drug sales. Due to the ages of the minors involved and the ongoing investigation, the names, genders, ages, or school location of the involved juveniles will not be released.

Santa Rosa Police Department case number 24-4628.

WARNING SIGNS FOR PARENTS

In this case, the offender used social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram and Telegram to sell controlled substances to juveniles, and peer-to-peer payment applications such as CashApp and Venmo to accept payments. This is a popular and increasingly common trend throughout our communities. Many parents utilize the same social media platforms and applications to communicate and exchange money with their children.

The Santa Rosa Police Department encourages parents to be extremely vigilant in monitoring social media activity and recognizing signs of drug dealers who children may be communicating with. One example can include references to a “Plug” or a plug emoji, which is common street slang for a social media drug dealer.  Other emojis (such as a blue circular dot to represent pressed fentanyl pills, or snowflakes to represent Cocaine) can oftentimes also be used as a “code language” to disguise illicit online activity by traffickers.

The DEA released, “Emoji Drug Code,” a guide to understanding the use of emojis to communicate about illegal activity as part of their “One Pill Can Kill campaign.” Access the guidebook here: https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2021-12/Emoji%20Decoded.pdf

Parents are also encouraged to closely monitor their children’s use of peer-to-peer payment applications such as CashApp and Venmo. Because teens tend to carry limited amounts of cash, it is not uncommon for drug dealers to facilitate transactions and accept payments via these means.

Unfortunately, controlled substances are frequently packaged in a way that would be enticing or alluring to teenagers and may even be misleading as to the contents. The attached photographs depict psilocybin “shroom” edible gummies and chocolate bars, as well as marijuana / THC edible candies. These were some of the items found in Hurtado-Diaz’s possession during the service of the search warrants. While many of these products can appear to possibly be from a reliable source or controlled manufacturing facility, evidence found in a storage unit associated to Hurtado-Diaz suggested he may have been packaging some of these items himself. As such, there is no way of knowing the true source of these items or if they are safe for consumption.

The Santa Rosa Police Department encourages parents to be vigilant about the dangers of obtaining THC, marijuana, nicotine, or other controlled substances from illicit traffickers through social media. We are committed to investigating drug traffickers targeting juveniles. A conviction of selling controlled substances to minors may carry a prison sentence of up to 12 years per minor (Health & Safety § 11380, 11380.1), and it remains a felony offense to sell marijuana or THC products to children or teenagers under the age of 18.

Media inquiries can be to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.