Los Angeles has seen some strange apartment situations, but an alleged fentanyl stash house with an alligator and a gold-plated gun is certainly making a strong case for the weirdest.
Federal agents reportedly raided a luxury downtown Los Angeles apartment on Thursday. Inside, they allegedly found Marvin Angelito, 27, and Susan Gonzalez, 26, along with a massive stash of drugs.
And then there was the alligator. Apparently, a normal security system was not enough.
According to authorities, agents discovered about 94 pounds of fentanyl. That works out to roughly 42 kilograms. They also allegedly found nearly 16 pounds of cocaine and equipment believed to be used for making or handling drugs.
Then came the plot twist that nobody had on their bingo card. An alligator was reportedly found inside the apartment.
There was also a gold-plated gun and other firearms, adding even more chaos to an already bizarre federal raid.
The apartment was allegedly being used as a fentanyl “stash house.” That is a lot less glamorous than the luxury building might suggest.
Investigators say the luxe apartment was a known drug trafficking location, drawing lesser dealers who sought to score fentanyl and cocaine from the high-flying dealer couple.
The FBI got their chance at busting Angelito and Gonzalez when agents investigating them over the summer flipped a criminal informant facing federal drug charges of their own against the duo.
Working with the FBI, the criminal snitch arranged to buy 500,000 M30 fentanyl pills from Angelito and Gonzalez for $125,000, with the deal set for August 21 at their apartment located on the 45th floor at 230 W. Olympic Blvd, a high-rise apartment building known as Olympic + Hill.
A “show and tell” video call was arranged, with Angelito displaying the drugs for the buyer, and a friend of Angelito appearing on the call and talking about how big-time the pair were.
This place is “official,” the friend said on the call, adding that there is some “cartel s—t over here.”
“This is the stash house. They’ve got everything up there,” the friend said on the call. “They don’t like to let too many people up there. If somebody robs that s—t or something they’ll know who to blame it on.”
“Now you know this s—t is for real,” the friend added.
From the outside, residents may have simply seen another expensive downtown apartment. Inside, according to the allegations, things were considerably more complicated.
Angelito and Gonzalez were arrested during the raid. They are each charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The deal went down as planned, with the feds confiscating the drugs. A few weeks later, the FBI executed a search warrant at Angelito and Gonzalez’s apartment and took them into custody.
In the bust, the feds found nearly 94 pounds of fentanyl pills and powder, more than two pounds of heroin, almost 16 pounds of cocaine, and laboratory equipment such as beakers, mixers, stirrers, and torches, and a hydraulic press.
They also discovered an AR-15 rifle with ammunition located in a hallway closet, a gold-plated Desert Eagle .50-caliber pistol with ammunition placed on the kitchen counter, a police radio, — and a small alligator kept inside a glass tank, which U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents seized.
The upscale trap house shared by Angelito and Gonzalez came with a slew of amenities, including a pool, panoramic views, fancy common spaces, a posh gaming room and more.
Angelito and Gonzalez both made their initial appearances yesterday at the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Judge Karen Stevenson ordered Angelito detained and ordered Gonzalez released on $15,000 bond.
Most people decorate luxury apartments with expensive artwork, fancy furniture or maybe a ridiculous chandelier. Apparently, gold-plated firearms were also on the alleged shopping list here.
Authorities now have a serious criminal case to deal with.
Flip to the next page for the viral photos…
