Former Fresno Deputy Police Chief Indicted

A grand jury indicted former Fresno Deputy Police Chief Keith Foster and six others for drug trafficking Thursday. Foster is accused of conspiring with others to distribute oxycodone, heroin and marijuana.

The charges are the result of a year long investigation by the FBI and ATF. Alleging Foster has been involved in a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone since May 23, 2014 with Randy Flowers. One of those charges for distribution was on March 26th, the day of his arrest.

Legal analyst Charles Magill says the charges may be difficult to defend.

"They are not going to be able to say this was a one time occurrence because he was allegedly doing it over and over again. That gives more credibility to the theory that the only reason he had the prescription because he was selling it on the black market," Magill says.

The 13 page indictment names six others involved in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Randy Flowers, Rafael Guzman, Iran Dennis Foster, Jennifer Donabedian and Sarah Ybarra were named. As well as a new co-conspirator Ricky Reynolds of Shasta County. He’s accused of growing the marijuana in the conspiracy.

Randy Flowers and Iran Dennis foster are convicted felons.

Magill says if convicted Foster could see less jail time than some of the defendants.

"He’s lived a life without blemishes of criminal involvement so he will be on the lower end on all those different guideline times for custody," Magill said.

A week ago Foster resigned from his position as Deputy Police Chief.

With eight charges against him, his attorney may try to settle rather than go to trial.

"He’s going to have a high price on his head. Its going to be a tough time for him to serve in custody. He would have to be in solitary confinement the whole time," Magill said.