Indian Man Charged In US For Alleged Meth Sales From California Pizza Outlet

An Indian national has been charged in the US for allegedly selling wholesale quantities of methamphetamine from a pizza restaurant in California, with authorities also accusing him of possessing illegal firearms.

According to the US Department of Justice, Kawal Preet Singh, 50, an Indian national described as unlawfully present in the US, operated a Round Table Pizza restaurant in Dinuba. Court documents allege that he used the outlet to distribute methamphetamine in wholesale quantities while armed with firearms.

Federal agents searched Singh’s home and business on August 18 and allegedly seized more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine, three firearms and over USD 10,000 in cash, the DOJ said.

A federal grand jury subsequently indicted Singh on September 3 on charges including distributing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

If convicted of drug trafficking, Singh faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, along with a fine of up to USD 10 million. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum five year sentence, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence, and a maximum of life imprisonment.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. Authorities said the case emerged from an investigation into Indian organised crime in California’s Central Valley.

The case is being pursued under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, a US government effort targeting criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organisations and human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the US and abroad.

The DOJ stressed that the charges are allegations and that Singh is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Any eventual sentence will be determined by the court after considering federal sentencing guidelines and other applicable statutory factors.