A modest grandma accused of running a drug ring from her California home has shocked her neighbors – comparing the situation to the TV show “Breaking Bad”.
Joanne Marian Segovia – who worked as executive director of the San Jose Police Officers Association – was facing federal charges for allegedly importing an artificial opioid called Valeryl fentanyl.
“She’s more of the form of person you’d imagine having chocolate chip cookies or something ready for the youngsters, like a typical grandma,” said Michael Galloway, who lives two houses away from Segovia in a gated community in San Jose.
“It’s a whole surprise. Nothing unusual happened there. It’s like Breaking Bad. – you do not expect it in any respect! I mean, everyone’s in shock.”
Breaking Bad followed the exploits of suburban chemistry teacher Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, who starts cooking and selling methamphetamine to lift money for cancer treatment.
In response to an affidavit by federal prosecutors, Segovia, 64, received not less than 61 packages at her home from October 2015 to January 2023. During questioning by officers, it is alleged that the grandmother tried in charge her landlady.
The packages, which arrived from India, Canada, the UK, Hong Kong and China, were labeled as containing an assortment of things, including wedding favors, makeup, supplements, and chocolate and candy.
Investigators say the packages actually contained deadly synthetic opioids and powerful painkillers resembling Tramadol and Tapentadol, which Segovia then distributed throughout the US.
Patricia Briggs told The Post Segovia and her husband Dom have lived in the world for about 20 years and are at all times nice.
Briggs said Dom had retired and enjoyed playing golf, while Joanne never missed a chance to indicate off her daughter and two grandchildren.
“Joanne has at all times been incredibly friendly and just plain nice,” said Briggs. “If someone asked me who may be doing something inappropriate, Joanne’s name would never appear on this list. My neighbors and I – we’re all stunned.”
Neighbors said a couple of dozen unmarked vehicles surrounded the Segovias’ home last week. Investigators, who weren’t wearing uniforms, entered and exited the home carrying bags of evidence.
Segovia was first questioned by agents on February 1, in accordance with a report written by David Vargas, an area agent with US Homeland Security Investigations. During this interview, she told agents that she “worked for the police” and claimed that she only ordered supplements.
When asked why her name and address were found on a drug trafficking suspect’s phone, Segovia allegedly told investigators she had “no idea.”
During a second interview with investigators on March 14, Segovia said she had nothing to do with the parcels addressed to her and as an alternative put the blame on her landlady, who was a friend of the family.
She added that the anonymous woman suffered from a substance abuse disorder and had access to her personal smartphone and CashApp and WhatsApp communications.
“All of it leads back to her,” Segovia told investigators.
Despite meeting agents not less than twice, Grandma was still corresponding on WhatsApp with someone using an Indian area code in March 2023.
“IndiaChat contained lots of of messages referring to ‘soma’ or ‘orange pills’ in addition to discussing shipping and payment,” the Homeland Security report said. “The chat also contained 235 images – depicting pills, shipping labels, packaging, and bills or payment receipts.”
Segovia allegedly sent packages it received from India to a girl in North Carolina, but was intercepted by agents. The return address on the packages indicated the address of the San Jose Police Officers Association, where Segovia had worked for 20 years.
“I also imagine that using the San Jose Police Officers Association shipping label indicates that Segovia used its office as a part of the acquisition and distribution of controlled substances,” Vargas wrote in his report.
Briggs, who has known Segovia and her husband for about twenty years, said it was hard for her to grasp that her neighbor and friend might be able to running a drug operation.
She said her friend was a loving grandmother and loving daughter to her elderly mother, whom she visited every Sunday.
Briggs, who’s a retired nurse, said if the allegations were true, she could be not only upset but outraged.
“It makes me incredibly offended to give it some thought as a nurse,” Briggs said. “That is the worst crime there may be, because I saw it first hand, working with drug addicts for 13 years early in my profession. It results in nothing but death and destruction.”
She added: “It’s simply shocking, but I stress that she is innocent until proven guilty. The girl I do know who’s my friend deserves it. The Joanne I do know is a really nice and mild person. But there could also be a girl I do not know, and that is one other story.
Segovia, who appeared in court on Friday, was released without bail and placed under supervised release Bay Area Television Station KRON. Her next court hearing is scheduled for April 28.
“I’m just offended because it is a huge disappointment to all the lads and ladies who are a part of our organization,” Sam Pritchard, president of the San Jose Police Officers Association, told television. “It is so hard to know. This person really was POA’s grandmother. This will not be an individual we have now known for over a decade.”