Defendant in drug case involving ex-Fresno police deputy chief pleads guilty

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- One of several defendants in a bombshell criminal case involving a former deputy chief with the Fresno Police Department has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. Sarah Ybarra, 37, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and/or possess with intent to distribute marijuana.

Ybarra is the first defendant of seven people who were indicted in April, along with former Fresno Police Deputy Chief Keith Foster -- a veteran of almost 30 years with the department. The federal indictment charges Foster with participating in three separate conspiracies to distribute various controlled substances.

Ybarra is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 23.