San Ramon Man, Three Others, Arrested For Money Laundering And Drug Trafficking

By Bay City News

Four people, including three Bay Area residents, have been arrested on federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges, according to federal officials.

San Francisco residents Herman Keese, 52, and his wife Deborah Barnes, 40, and San Ramon resident Marcus Law, 40, were arrested Wednesday along with Stockton resident James Bradley, 51, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The four were indicted by a federal grand jury on March 1 with one count of conspiring to launder money. In addition, Keese, Bradley and Law were charged with one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute PCP and methamphetamine.

All four were arraigned Wednesday in Sacramento and pleaded not guilty. A fifth defendant, Brett Townsend, had not been arrested as of Friday, officials said.

The indictment alleges that Keese, Bradley and Lawd istributed methamphetamine and PCP across the United States between April 2007 and March 1, 2012, and that all five defendants conspired to launder the money from the drug trafficking.

If convicted, the defendants face maximum penalties of life in prison and a $10 million fine on the drug distribution charge and 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the money laundering charge.