San Francisco, CA – Today, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced eleven individuals have been charged this week with multiple felonies in connection to narcotics trafficking in the Tenderloin, eight of which have been released. One who was released pre-arraignment by a duty magistrate failed to appear for arraignment on September 30, 2025, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.
Four individuals were arraigned on September 29, 2025, three on September 30, 2025, and three on October 1, 2025, with each pleading not guilty to their specific charges and allegations in San Francisco Superior Court.
The criminal complaint for six of the individuals charged include enhancements pursuant to new laws that were enacted with the passage of Prop 36. Three of these individuals with Prop 36 enhancements also face allegations that they committed these crimes while released on another pending felony narcotics sales case.
The District Attorney’s Office moved to detain seven of the individuals without bail and to detain another in custody through a motion to revoke his current felony probation. Only three individuals remain in custody at this time for whom the court set bail. Seven individuals were released by the court with stay away orders from the place where they were arrested, and one was released with electronic monitoring. Of those charged with Prop 36 enhancements bail was set for three who remain in custody, two were released, and one was ordered released with electronic monitoring.
In one case, according to court documents, on September 24, 2025, at approximately 11:55 p.m., on the 600 block of Ellis St. Mr. Kevin Sanchez Avila (30) allegedly sold 2.4 grams of fentanyl to an undercover police officer. After allegedly completing the transaction, Mr. Sanchez Avila placed a bag of suspected narcotics inside a bag in the possession of Ms. Raylene Waddell (29). Officers arrested and searched both Mr. Sanchez Avila and Ms. Waddell. On Mr. Sanchez Avila officers found marked city funds, an additional $309.00 cash and packaging materials. On Ms. Waddell, officers located 114.1 grams of fentanyl, 49.4 grams of methamphetamine, 5.6 grams of cocaine base, 14.2 grams of suspected alprazolam, a scale, packaging materials and a smoking device. At the time of this incident, Ms. Waddell was on felony probation for a 2023 felony narcotics sales case. Ms. Waddell also had an open bench warrant for her arrest. At the time of this incident, Mr. Sanchez Avila was released on his own recognizance by the court over prosecutor’s objection in a pending felony narcotics sales case, for alleged drug dealing in the Tenderloin. He also had an open bench warrant for arrest. The court subsequently released Mr. Sanchez Avila on his own recognizance with electronic monitoring and ordered that he stay away from the area where he was arrested. The court set bail in the amount of $30,000 for Ms. Waddell and she currently remains in custody. Their next court date is October 10, 2025, for preliminary hearing.
In another case, according to court documents, on September 24, 2025, at approximately 11:48 p.m., at the intersection of Ellis Street and Market Street. Mr. Joel Medina (19) allegedly sold 2.6 grams of fentanyl to an undercover police officer for $30.00 of marked city funds. Officers arrested Mr. Medina and found over 370 grams of fentanyl (nearly one pound), 54 grams of methamphetamine, the marked city funds, $106.00 additional cash, a scale and some shears. At the time of his arrest, Mr. Medina was released by the court in a pending felony narcotics sales case. The court set bail at $40,000 and he currently remains in custody. His next court date is October 10, 2025, for preliminary hearing.
As of September 27, 2025, we have 1,152 defendants with pending felony narcotics case, of which more than half (681) have bench warrants issued for failure to appear in court. Of that group of 681 defendants with open bench warrants, 173 individuals have more than one case in bench warrant status, two individuals each have five cases in bench warrant status.
As of September 25, 2025, of the 1,1152 open narcotics cases only 129 are in custody for narcotics sales related charges, 100 have more than one pending case. 53 have more than two pending cases, and one person has nine pending felony narcotics cases.
Court Numbers:
Arraigned on September 29, 2025
Burgoss, 25020839
Medina, 25020842
Sanchez Avila, 25020841
Waddell, 25020837
Arraigned on September 30, 2025
Arteaga, 25020844
Lawson, 25020838 * Bench warrant issued for failure to appear
Rivera Posadas, 25020843
Torres Pineda, 25020820
Arraigned on October 1, 2025
Edmonds, 25020845
Lindquist, 25020816
Vargas Licona 25020840
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