Mexican national pleads guilty in meth trafficking conspiracy linked to Oregon murder

A Mexican national has pleaded guilty in federal court for his role in a violent meth trafficking operation that spanned the Portland metro area in 2019. He fled to Canada, but was extradited and has been charged.

Fernando Adolip Cruz-Lerma, 25, was extradited from Canada and then entered his guilty plea for conspiracy charges related to narcotics distribution. Court filings reveal that Cruz-Lerma was part of a criminal network operating in spring 2019. According to prosecutors, the conspiracy involved both large-scale drug distribution and deadly violence to enforce debts.

“According to court documents, in April and May 2019, Cruz-Lerma conspired with others to engage in drug trafficking. In April, Cruz-Lerma transported a victim from the state of Washington to Clackamas County due to a drug debt that the victim owed to members of the drug trafficking conspiracy. The victim was killed by members of the drug trafficking conspiracy in furtherance of the conspiracy. Cruz-Lerma assisted with leaving the victim’s body along a rural road in Clackamas County after the victim had been killed,” a press release from the DOJ stated.

In May, he then distributed around two pounds of meth. Cruz-Lerma was indicted by a grand jury in Portland in June 2023 and charged with possession with intent to distribute, conspiracy, and distribution of methamphetamine. As part of his plea agreement, Cruz-Lerma has committed to paying full restitution to victims.

Cruz-Lerma is set to be sentenced on June 8, 2026. He is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, as well as a fine of $10 million. He has a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison with five years of supervised release.

"This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime," the DOJ said.