An undercover operation by the Drug Enforcement Administration led federal agents to a Richmond home, where they conducted a raid this week that allegedly yielded 20 pounds of methamphetamine.

According to the DEA, the investigation began when a suspected middleman meth dealer unwittingly led agents to his supplier, a Richmond man named Juan Luis Contreras-Rodriguez, who officials said goes by the nickname “El Diablo.”

Both Contreras-Rodriguez and the dealer, Hector Estrada Cervantes, were charged Thursday with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of meth, a federal offense that carries a minimum sentence of five years, and a maximum of 40 years in prison and $5 million fine.

The complaint states that Cervantes allegedly contacted an undercover DEA agent out of the blue, and negotiated a one-pound meth deal for $2,000. During his talk with the agents, the complaint said, Cervantes mentioned the meth would be delivered from Richmond., and then put his source on speakerphone. The supplier identified himself to the undercover agent as “El Diablo,” the complaint says, and authorities later identified him as Contreras-Rodriguez.

After a subsequent two-pound deal in San Jose, the undercover agent negotiated the sale of 40 pounds of meth for $70,000, the complaint says. The deals were allegedly supposed to occur on March 4 and March 5, for 20 pounds at a time.

On Wednesday, the undercover agent showed up at a business in El Cerrito to do the first deal, but Contreras-Rodriguez allegedly told him that he did not want to meet in a public place. Authorities then conducted surveillance on Cervantes, tracking him as he went to Contreras-Rodriguez’s home in Richmond, the complaint says.

Agents subsequently arrested both Contreras-Rodriguez and Cervantes, and searched the home, uncovering roughly 20 pounds of meth that had been concealed within a wet/dry vacuum, according to the complaint.

Neither defendant entered a plea during their first court appearances Thursday. They are next due in court on March 11 in San Jose, court records show.