Honduran National Found With Fentanyl And Methamphetamine At Oakland Home Where Minors Lived Convicted Of Drug Trafficking Offenses

OAKLAND - A federal jury yesterday convicted Maxfer Palma, who was found with more than two kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl in an apartment where multiple children lived, with one count each of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on premises where children were present or resided, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The jury's verdict follows a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Palma, 29, a Honduran national, possessed a black backpack in his apartment in East Oakland that contained more than 400 grams of methamphetamine, more than 200 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl, various other controlled substances, and digital scales. Oakland Police Department officers found the black backpack hidden in a laundry hamper in Palma's bedroom closet. In addition to the drugs, Palma had a firearm and a magazine loaded with ammunition in the same black backpack.

The jury also found that Palma possessed a green backpack containing four bricks of methamphetamine weighing more than 1,700 grams, which law enforcement found hidden in a dog crate with a small dog in the living room of his apartment.

Multiple children, including two minors who appeared to be under the age of 10, were present in the apartment right before OPD officers searched it and found the drugs, firearm, and ammunition.

"We will continue to aggressively prosecute dealers who poison our communities with these dangerous substances. The defendant's decisions to store deadly drugs and a firearm in a home where multiple children live showed a callous disregard for human life. We thank the jury for bringing him to account for his inexcusable actions," said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.

"DEA is focused on breaking the command, control, and distribution networks responsible for the fentanyl crisis. Our top operational priority is to eliminate the cartels and foreign terrorist organizations responsible for flooding the United States with fentanyl. Illicit fentanyl is closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic, just two milligrams - a few grains of salt - can be deadly," said San Francisco Division DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris.

The evidence presented at trial, including text messages from Palma's phone, showed that Palma trafficked fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other narcotics in East Oakland and the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco over the course of a seven-month period spanning 2022 and 2023.

The jury acquitted Palma of one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 22, 2023, in connection with an incident in the Tenderloin neighborhood.

Palma is currently in federal custody. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 17, 2026, before Judge Tigar.

Palma faces 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(viii); five to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl in violation of violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(vi); a mandatory consecutive sentence of five years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c); and a mandatory consecutive sentence of no more than 20 years for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on premises where children are present or reside in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 860a. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Buszin and Emily Dahlke are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA, the Oakland Police Department, and the San Francisco Police Department.