Palm Desert Pair Suspected Of Fentanyl Peddling Released On Bail

PALM DESERT, CA — A Palm Desert man and woman arrested on drug-selling charges — including the alleged possession of about 1,400 fentanyl pills — were released from jail Friday.

Palm Desert residents Jose Luis Acevedo Prado, 33, and Lydia Lizzette Valencia, 30, were arrested Thursday on suspicion of possessing marijuana and narcotics for sale as well as child endangerment, according to Sgt. Tom Anderson of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Prado was additionally booked on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm.

The event that led to the discovery of the suspects was a negligently discharged firearm in the 50000 block of Goya Drive.

Anderson said that deputies from the Thermal sheriff's station responded at 4:23 a.m. Oct. 1 to the shots fired report but that upon arrival, they learned the suspect fled the area in a gray SUV.

The Coachella Community Action Team assumed the investigation and identified Prado as the suspect, Anderson said.

On Thursday, the Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District Team and the La Quinta Special Enforcement Team assisted deputies assigned to CCAT in the search of a residence in the 73000 block of Country Club Drive, he said.

"During a search of the residence, deputies located two firearms, approximately 1,400 Fentanyl pills, 1.5 pounds of processed marijuana, a scale and packaging consistent with narcotics sales, and approximately $1,550," Anderson wrote in a statement.

Prado and Valencia were inside the residence and arrested without incident, according to Anderson.

The relationship of the two was not disclosed, and it was unclear if they both reside at the home. It was also unclear if there were any children dwelling there, as there was no explanation for the child endangerment charge.

They were subsequently booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, but were each released on $50,000 bail bonds. Valencia was released Thursday, Prado on Friday.

Anyone with information on the negligent discharge of a firearm was asked to call the Thermal sheriff's station Coachella Community Action Team at 760-863-8990 or Valley Crimestoppers anonymously at 760-341-7867.