Portland Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

PORTLAND, Ore.-A Portland, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in an interstate drug trafficking organization.

Luis Garcia Zurita, 38, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release.

According to court documents, Garcia Zurita was both an interstate drug transporter and local distributor for a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization operating in Portland. In June 2024, investigators used an informant to set up a controlled purchase with Garcia Zurita. Investigators began monitoring the Dodge Ram used to deliver the cocaine to the informant, which was registered to Garcia Zurita.

In August 2024, the truck traveled to Los Angeles, California, where it stayed only hours before returning north back to Oregon, consistent with a drug resupply run. Suspecting this was a narcotics pick-up, investigators arrested Garcia Zurita leaving a restaurant and found over $4,000 in cash and the keys to his Ram. Investigators were granted a search warrant and found a hidden compartment containing 4,345 grams of fentanyl pills and 2,015 grams of cocaine.

On March 5, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Garcia Zurita with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.

On December 1, 2025, Garcia Zurita pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul T. Maloney.