Fernando Adolip Cruz-Lerma, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty on Apr. 7 to charges of conspiring to distribute and distributing narcotics in the Portland area following his extradition from Canada.
Cruz-Lerma, age 25, admitted in court that he conspired with others in April and May 2019 to traffic drugs. During this period, he transported a victim from Washington state to Clackamas County over a drug debt owed to members of the trafficking group. The victim was subsequently killed by other members of the conspiracy, and Cruz-Lerma assisted with leaving the body along a rural road.
Court documents show that Cruz-Lerma also distributed about two pounds of methamphetamine in May 2019. He was charged by a federal grand jury on June 6, 2023 with multiple offenses including conspiracy and distribution of controlled substances. He now faces up to life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, five years supervised release, and fines up to $10 million. Sentencing is scheduled for July 8 before a U.S. district court judge.
As part of his plea agreement, Cruz-Lerma has agreed to pay full restitution. Another individual involved in the investigation, Marcos Alonso Castillo-Bernal, has already been sentenced.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement regarding this case’s progress. The investigation involved several agencies: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Portland Police Bureau, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and its Interagency Task Force (CCITF). CCITF includes local police departments as well as state and federal partners; it aims at disrupting drug organizations operating around Clackamas County with support from community funding initiatives.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice targeting illegal immigration and organized crime groups.
The Justice Department serves as the principal federal agency for law enforcement according to its official website. It operates throughout the United States and internationally in more than fifty countries as reported by its official website. The department employs over 115,000 people worldwide according to its official website.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has led the Justice Department since March 11, 2021 as stated on its official website. Garland previously oversaw key prosecutions such as those related to the Oklahoma City bombing case according to its official website. The department focuses on upholding rule of law while ensuring safety and protecting civil rights as detailed on its official site.
