Police union official charged with attempting to import fentanyl

RAY BOGAN: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SAN JOSE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTING TO IMPORT FENTANYL INTO THE UNITED STATES WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE IT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. 

64-YEAR-OLD JOANNE SEGOVIA IS ACCUSED OF ORDERING PILLS BOTH ON HER PERSONAL AND WORK COMPUTERS, HAVE THEM SENT TO HER HOME, AND THEN DISTRIBUTING THEM. 

PROSECUTORS SAY SEGOVIA’S SCHEME GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2015, AND THAT SHE RECEIVED SHIPMENTS FROM HONG KONG, HUNGARY, INDIA, AND SINGAPORE. 

THE MANIFESTS FOR THE SHIPMENTS WOULD SAY THINGS LIKE WEDDING PARTY FAVORS, GIFT MAKEUP OR CHOCOLATE AND SWEETS. INVESTIGATORS FOUND ENCRYPTED WHATSAPP MESSAGES EXPLAINING LOGISTICS TO HER SUPPLIERS. 

SHE IS ALSO ACCUSED OF USING HER POSITION IN THE POLICE UNION TO DISTRIBUTE, BY USING THE UNION’S UPS ACCOUNT. ONE OF THOSE PACKAGES MADE IT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO NORTH CAROLINA. 

IF CONVICTED, SEGOVIA FACES 20 YEARS IN PRISON