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Drugs and money<\/p>\nBAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 When Theodore Richards III sent a message that read \u201c39 girls and 6 boys,\u201d he wasn\u2019t referring to children.<\/p>\n
\u201cGirls\u201d meant kilograms of cocaine, according to federal authorities; \u201cboys\u201d referred to kilograms of fentanyl.<\/p>\n
Both Richards and Demond Hayden, from Bakersfield and linked to a local Crips gang, were involved in a multi-state drug trafficking organization with ties to drug cartels in Mexico and Colombia, authorities say in court filings. They\u2019re charged in federal court in Massachusetts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe investigation has found evidence tying the Richards (drug trafficking organization) to various states, including, but not limited to, Massachusetts, California, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, North Dakota, Washington, D.C., Missouri and Michigan,\u201d according to the filings.<\/p>\n
Hayden was charged June 16; Richards was indicted last year.<\/p>\n
Authorities say Richards headed the organization and Hayden was a distributor.<\/p>\n
Drugs and money<\/p>\n
Huge sums of money were involved.<\/p>\n
In one instance, Hayden wrote he owed Richards $1,092,000 for a shipment of \u201c39 girls\u201d \u2014 fentanyl which he sold at $28,000 a kilogram, the filings say.<\/p>\n
Richards, who also went by \u201cMickey,\u201d sent shipments of fentanyl to another defendant stamped with the image of Mickey Mouse, according to a video made by Richards which is described in the filings.<\/p>\n
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Hayden referred to Richards in messages as \u201cBig Bro,\u201d and saved a contact on his phone as \u201cBig Bro Lawyer.\u201d The number was for the attorney representing Richards, authorities say.<\/p>\n
In December 2023, Richards, Hayden and others in the organization met for a party at what Richards described as his \u201ccompound\u201d in Bakersfield, according to the filings.<\/p>\n
Drug shipments linked to Richards were seized in 2025 in Chicago, Illinois and Dayton, Ohio, authorities say, and a shipment connected to both Richards and Hayden was seized in Columbus, Ohio in July 2025.<\/p>\n
Photos on Richards\u2019 phone showed large amounts of drugs laid out on the floor, authorities say.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBased on the investigation, I believe it is a practice of Richards\u2019 drug trafficking organization, and Richards himself, to send photographs of bulk drug shipments to the respective recipients in the conspiracy who would then distribute the controlled substances in their respective areas of the United States,\u201d an investigator wrote.<\/p>\n
Hayden\u2019s cellphones also contained photos and videos of drugs and cash \u2014 and chat messages suggesting \u201clarge scale drug trafficking activity,\u201d according to the filings.<\/p>\n
Setting prices, getting rich<\/p>\n
Hayden and Richards discussed adjusting drug mixtures and what prices to set, authorities say.<\/p>\n
A sample message from Richards: \u201c46 on the 77 and new 888, 45 on the 888. the 400 it cost me more even more (sic) but let\u2019s test at 46 and see what it\u2019s really something I should be charging 50.\u201d<\/p>\n
What Richards was telling Hayden, authorities say, was to charge $46,000 for fentanyl kilograms marked \u201c77\u201d, and to use the same price for new fentanyl kilograms marked \u201c888.\u201d<\/p>\n
Older packaged kilograms of fentanyl marked \u201c888\u201d should be sold for $45,000, Richards said according to authorities.<\/p>\n
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In the second line, Richards was telling Hayden fentanyl kilograms marked \u201c400\u201d cost him more to purchase, but Hayden should sell them at $46,000 per kilogram despite Richards\u2019 belief they could go as high as $50,000 per kilogram.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 400 supposed to be more powerful but we shall see,\u201d Richards wrote.<\/p>\n
Authorities say it appeared both men expected to become wealthy.<\/p>\n
Hayden had a note titled \u201cMillion Dollar Recipe\u201d on his phone with a recipe for mixing fentanyl with cutting agents and the statement, \u201cThe recipe to get rich as f\u2014,\u201d according to the filings.<\/p>\n
Richards wrote messages saying \u201c. . . we about to get super rich. I feel it,\u201d and \u201cWe got irons in the fire,\u201d according to the filings.<\/p>\n
He told Hayden, \u201cYou got what it take (sic),\u201d authorities say.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to turn you into an American icon,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
Richards\u2019 next hearing is July 24. A hearing date wasn\u2019t listed for Hayden.<\/p>\n
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