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.
Hellbound and Down 