Man Who Claimed He Was Being Forced To Sell Drugs By Human Traffickers In SF Convicted: DA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A man who claimed he was being forced to sell drugs in San Francisco by human traffickers has been convicted in connection with multiple crimes, including possessing fentanyl for sale, prosecutors said.

Edwin Mauricio Fiallos, 24, was convicted of two counts of possession for sale of fentanyl and one count each of possession for sale of cocaine base, possession for sale of methamphetamine and violating a stay-away order issued in another felony narcotics case. Fiallos is still facing other drug cases, according to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors say officers saw Fiallos selling drugs in the 700 block of O'Farrell Street in San Francisco on July 27, 2024.

When the officers arrested, they found 16.8 grams of cocaine base, 30 grams of fentanyl and 5.4 grams of methamphetamine and $406 in cash on Fiallos, prosecutors said.

A judge ordered Fiallos to stay away from areas where they sold drugs, and he was released while his case was pending.

But on Jan. 20, officers found Fiallos in the area of Sixth and Stevenson streets, violating the court order, prosecutors said.

Officers arrested the 24-year-old and seized 49.8 grams of fentanyl from him, prosecutors said.

During the trial, Fiallo's attorney argued that his client was a victim and was being forced to sell drugs by human traffickers who took all of his earnings, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors countered with evidence showing Fiallos was in discussions with family members about how to access money he earned from the drug trade to finance the construction of a house.

"We will not allow human trafficking laws to be exploited as a loophole to excuse the distribution of deadly narcotics and protect drug profits," Assistant District Attorney John Robles said in a statement on Tuesday. "Individual accountability prevailed over a manufactured narrative, and anyone who chooses to traffic poison on our streets will face the full consequences in San Francisco."