EUGENE, Ore. — Martin Manzo Negrete, 51, a Mexican national and leader of a major drug trafficking ring, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possessing 384 pounds of methamphetamine—the largest single meth seizure ever recorded in Oregon.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced the sentence on Thursday, revealing that Manzo Negrete orchestrated the shipment and distribution of methamphetamine from Southern California to communities in and around Lane County.
According to court documents, the investigation into Manzo Negrete’s operation began in October 2020 after authorities identified a drug trafficking cell responsible for transporting large quantities of methamphetamine into Oregon. The organization stored, divided, and distributed the drugs locally.
Manzo Negrete, who was living unlawfully in Lane County and had previously served 14 years in federal prison for drug offenses, was identified as the cell’s leader. He regularly sold several pounds of methamphetamine to street-level dealers on a weekly basis.
On September 15, 2021, a coordinated law enforcement operation executed multiple federal search warrants in Lane County, uncovering 384 pounds of methamphetamine in a storage unit. Officers also seized 14 firearms, some reported stolen, and more than $76,000 in cash. Manzo Negrete and four associates were arrested during the operation, with a fifth associate apprehended shortly thereafter.
Manzo Negrete pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute on March 4, 2025. All five co-conspirators have also pleaded guilty and received federal prison sentences.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with support from the Springfield Police Department, Eugene Police Department, and the Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas D. Meyers and William M. McLaren.
This sentencing marks a significant victory in the ongoing effort to combat the flow of methamphetamine into Oregon communities.
