Jury Convicts Paul Thomas On Multiple Felony Narcotics And Manufacturing Charges; Faces Up To 23 Years In State Prison

District Attorney Freitas announced today that on June 25, 2026, a local jury found defendant Paul Thomas guilty of multiple felony narcotics charges, including the operation of an active drug manufacturing laboratory.

The conviction follows a thorough investigation initiated on July 10, 2024, when agents from the Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force served a search warrant at 4460 Cotton Court, Apt. 4. Upon entering the residence, agents discovered that Thomas was utilizing the apartment as a narcotics stash house and processing facility to convert cocaine hydrochloride into cocaine base ("crack" cocaine).

Thomas was apprehended by agents inside a locked bedroom. In that room, law enforcement seized:

• 145 grams of cocaine base ("crack" cocaine)
• 125 grams of cocaine
• 52 grams of methamphetamine
• 25.5 grams of heroin
• 3.6 grams of fentanyl
• An active, operational conversion laboratory 

Following a trial before the Honorable Judge Lance Jacot, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts, including manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of cocaine base for sale, possession of cocaine for sale, possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of heroin for sale, and possession of fentanyl for sale.

"This verdict sends a clear message that the manufacturing and distribution of poison in our neighborhoods will not be tolerated," said District Attorney Freitas. "Thanks to the seamless collaboration between our dedicated prosecutors and law enforcement partners, a dangerous repeat offender is off our streets. We remain committed to holding those who traffic deadly substances accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

The prosecution was led by Deputy District Attorney Jocelyn Weisbrich. The District Attorney’s Office extends its sincere gratitude to DDA Weisbrich for her exceptional work in securing this conviction, as well as Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force Agents Matthew Felber and Justin Maggio for their diligent, thorough investigation of this case.

Due to a prior "strike" conviction on March 20, 1997, for a violation of Penal Code section 288.5(a) (continuous sexual abuse of a child), Thomas faces a maximum exposure of 23 years and 4 months in state prison.

Sentencing is officially scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Department 7A.