The executive director of the San Jose Police Officer’s Association (SJPOA) has been charged with attempting to illegally import a controlled substance.
According to the United States Department of Justice, Segovia, 64, is accused of ordering thousands of opioids to her home and agreeing to distribute them in the United States.
DOJ said a federal criminal complaint reveals Segovia used her personal and office computers to order drugs, including fentanyl, between October 2015 and January 2023.
At least 61 shipments were delivered to her home from Hong Kong, Hungary, and India.
“This is an incredibly disturbing allegation. No one is above the law, regardless of who their employer is. I want to thank U.S. Attorney Ramsey and his colleagues for aggressively pursuing the sources of fentanyl coming into our communities and holding drug-dealers accountable.,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement.
Law enforcement learned of the connection to Segovia when investigating a network in India that ships drugs to the US. The complaint states that a network operative’s phone was searched and found messages that mentioned “J Segovia” and a San Jose address. The words “180 pills SOMA 500mg” were also mentioned.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection records showed that five shipments to Segovia’s address were intercepted between July 2019 and January 2023. Per the court document, the packages contained more than a kilogram of controlled substances such as Zolpidem (for insomnia) and Tramadol (a narcotic used to treat pain).
The packages mailed to Segovia’s home had labels such as “Shirt Tops,” “Chocolate and Sweets” and “Gift Makeup,” DOJ said.
Court documents state that Segovia was interviewed by Homeland Security agents on February 1, 2023, where she claimed she ordered supplements that were nothing out of the ordinary.
She also refused to show agents her CashApp transaction history.
Segovia was interviewed again on March 14, where she blamed the orders on another woman who she said is a housekeeper who suffered from a substance abuse disorder. Homeland Security noted that she made inconsistent statements about whether the woman had access to her cell phone.
Segovia later gave access to her WhatsApp account where hundreds of messages reveal “soma” or “orange pills.”
In 2021, Segovia was told to send a package to a woman in North Carolina. A UPS receipt shows the signature “J Segovia” and the return address is 1151 North Fourth Street, SJPOA’s address.
“I also believe the use of the San Jose Police Officers’ Association shipping label indicates that Segovia used her office as part of her purchasing and distribution of controlled substances,” Homeland Security Officer David Vargas wrote in the complaint.
On March 13, a controlled substance with the label “CLOCK” was seized in Kentucky. The parcel originally came from China and was addressed to Segovia’s home.
It contained a clock kit with white adhesive stickers or patches, where valeryl fentanyl was found.
Documents described valeryl fentanyl as a “synthetic fentanyl analogue and a Schedule I narcotic.”
Segovia completed payment for suspected drug transactions on March 23, Homeland Security said. A day later, officers seized Tapentadol pills at Segovia’s home and her office.
Vargas said he believes Segovia continued to order and pay for controlled substances after being interviewed by Homeland Security agents. He also believes Segovia knowingly gave false information to investigators.
Segovia is charged with an attempt to unlawfully import valeryl fentanyl. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.
SJPOA released the following statement:
“Last Friday we were informed by federal authorities that one of our civilian employees was under investigation for distribution of a controlled substance and the POA has been fully and completely cooperating with the federal authorities as they continue their investigation. The POA immediately placed the civilian employee on leave and as is standard procedure cut off all access to the POA. No additional individual at the POA is involved or had prior knowledge of the alleged acts. The Board of Directors is saddened and disappointed at hearing this news and we have pledged to provide our full support to the investigative authorities.”
San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata also provided the following statement:
“I have become aware of the investigation and charges by an outside agency of a civilian employee of the San Jose Police Officers Association. This news is disheartening and comes as a shock to me and the leaders and membership of the SJPOA. I want our stakeholders to know that the civilian employee was never employed in any capacity by the San Jose Police Department.”
