Defendant faces new federal drug charges as well as allegations he violated conditions of supervised release from his 2015 conviction
OAKLAND – Jeremy Donagal was charged in a criminal complaint filed Friday morning May 15, 2020 with possession of equipment for producing counterfeit drugs as well as the manufacture and sale of counterfeit drugs in a scheme to distribute counterfeit generic alprazolam (the active ingredient in the brand-name anti-anxiety medication Xanax), announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King; and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter. In a separate filing, Donagal also is alleged to have violated the conditions of his supervised release from his 2015 conviction, where he was originally charged in the 2014 indictment as “Jeremy Donagal, a/k/a/ “Xanax King”, a/k/a “XK”.
According to the criminal complaint, Donagal, 41, of Martinez, Calif., signed a lease in December of 2018, for a warehouse in Concord, Calif. Donagal allegedly visited the warehouse on May 14, 2020, let himself into the building, and was detained shortly after stepping outside. As explained in the motion to revoke his supervised release, inside the building, were multiple pill presses, plastic trays with punches and dies in them, thousands of pressed tablets, packaging and shipping materials, and other equipment consistent with a mail-order business. The tablets had the same markings as are used by Sandoz Inc., a company that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized to manufacture and distribute generic alprazolam. Donagal is charged with possession of equipment to produce counterfeit drugs, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(a)(5), and the manufactured and sale of counterfeit drugs, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 331(i)(3).
Donagal already was on supervised release from a previous conviction. Donagal’s previous sentence included a three-year term of supervised release. Donagal was released on June 27, 2018, subject to the terms of a supervised release order that required Donagal to refrain from committing additional federal crimes and work regularly at a lawful occupation. In papers filed this morning, the government seeks to revoke Donagal’s release for violating these terms of his supervised release. The motion to revoke supervised release states as follows:
[A]lmost immediately after being released from prison to supervised release, Donagal began work setting up a new counterfeit drug operation. He set up a laboratory and pill press operation to manufacture the counterfeit pills, and he established a dark web vendor site to sell the pills nationwide. He also established vendor pages on dark web criminal marketplaces like Samsara and Empire. On May 14, 2020, agents executed search warrants at Donagal’s residence and warehouse and seized pill presses, punch-dies designed to produce counterfeit drugs, and that packaging materials in the same brand name he used on the dark web marketplaces. That same day, agents arrested him.
Donagal was made his initial federal court appearance on May 15, 2020, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu. Donagal is next scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse on May 18, 2020, at 10:30 AM for an attorney appointment hearing.
A complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted of possessing equipment to produce counterfeit drugs, Donagal faces a maximum statutory penalty of four years in prison and one year of supervised release. If convicted of the counterfeit drug manufacturing and sale charge, Donagal faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and one year of supervised release. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA, HSI, and IRS. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is assisting with the investigation.
Bratface Terri says
Boy for some dumb reason people seem to like too rent spots there for many years now! You’d think they would look elsewhere!? Seriously they;re lookin’ to get busted and go to prison if you ask me, but that;s just an opinion! Have a nice vacation LAME!!
FreeJD says
Back in those days with silk road, agora, pandora, and many more darknet websites Jeremy was just supplying what his customers demanded. He never put a gun to anyone’s head and said “BUY MY XANAX!”….He had the best pressed bars to this day but no the government got mad they weren’t getting their share so he got f-ed like usual. Actually look into his black and white and i’m talking ALL OF IT. Don’t just read here and there and judge him. This m-f-er was the REAL Xanax King. He never had one overdose NOT one! NOW LOOK there are kids overdosing left and right because in China Alprazolam is the death penalty so now we’re stuck with shit like Flu Alp and more….do your research.
Isaiah Donegal says
Four people off his mailing list died! You don’t have all your facts
Barbara Lindsay says
If future trial will be in Martinez Ca. I want to be in. “audience” ditto if in Concord, Ca. B.lindsay. 925-798-7792. Pls. Leave Msg.
Barbara Lindsay says
Thanks for confirming my msg!
Anonymous says
3 years Max? No wonder he continued. Slap on the wrist. This is the kind of illegal drug manufacturing that DEA and drug dealer laws were made for. He’s the stereotype of someone who should spend the rest of his life in prison. Clearly, the steroids have eaten his few remaining brain cells.
Kenneth Davis says
I agree with you. But tax payers should not have to support him in jail for life. By having him remain incarcerated it does send a strong message that it is not okay. He needs to be made to work in a environment that deals with addiction and help those who are suffering. Just a thought. Peace on!
Taylor L Parton says
For a Country battling illegal drugs this doesn’t seem. Like much of a penalty to this guy. There needs to be Large Fines and long prison sentence.This is obviously not important to California Court. People face stronger penalties for lessor Crimes. Wake up. Either punish or stop wasting tax payer money in the Arresting n prosecute process
David says
Ha ha aha ha this guy did his business at my work and from the start he was in trouble and they built all this. All cause he was on probation
BaaBaaBlackSheep says
I know a person who went to jail in and out for weed with a CA Certified weed card because this ossifer thought it was funny. Pacifica, Ca. For 8 yrs straight everytime he was on dooty. Yup I meant dooty, On top of all the court fees, fines, and bail to this day has a balance owed to that county for $70,000 because she finally became homeless and broke. And they did 190 days for being an “addict” she was a caregiver for her cancer husband. A real Police officer protects and serves the public that pays his wages. This person 3 yrs n done for illegal real bad drugs!! He better stay in Martinez, easy peasy time.