A federal grand jury has indicted a 50-year-old Indian national on charges related to a methamphetamine operation allegedly run out of a Round Table Pizza restaurant in Dinuba, California. Kawal Preet Singh faces charges including distributing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Federal agents searched the restaurant and Singh's home on August 18, reportedly seizing more than 40 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, three firearms, and over $10,000 in cash. At Singh's residence, agents allegedly found 13.8 kilograms of suspected meth. Approximately 4.9 kilograms more were found in his vehicle parked at the restaurant. A handgun and $11,800 in cash were also seized from the vehicle.
Singh was arraigned and pleaded not guilty. He is not currently in custody. The Dinuba Round Table Pizza location tied to the case has permanently closed. According to Fat Brands, the parent company of Round Table Pizza, the restaurant was independently owned and operated, and the owners were unaware of the alleged illegal activity. The owners are cooperating with authorities.
The investigation began in May after authorities received a tip about a narcotics trafficker operating in Fresno. The Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force identified Singh as a suspect. Court documents state that investigators developed evidence suggesting a network of Sikh Indian truck drivers transported large quantities of cocaine from Mexico into the United States on behalf of an unspecified Mexican cartel. The suspect was identified as a Sikh Indian male involved in long-haul truck driving, who allegedly worked with other Sikh Indian truck drivers to transport narcotics.
Search warrants were executed on August 18 for Singh, his business, and his residence. Agents surveilled Singh before approaching him after he left the restaurant and drove home. Simultaneously, search warrants were executed at the Round Table Pizza.
Singh allegedly told agents he had not sold methamphetamine for about two months, stating he was storing it for a friend. The case is scheduled for a status conference on November 4. If convicted, Singh faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million for the drug trafficking charges. The firearm charge carries an additional mandatory minimum of five years, consecutive to any other sentence, with a maximum of life in prison.