San Diego Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Bringing 68 Pounds of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl to Torrance Hotel

          LOS ANGELES – A San Diego man has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on narcotics trafficking charges after getting caught at a Torrance hotel carrying two suitcases filled with 59 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly nine pounds of fentanyl.

          Salvador Delrio, 46, was sentenced at a Monday hearing by United States District Judge Percy Anderson. Delrio pleaded guilty on April 25 to three felonies: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

          On September 5, 2018, Delrio walked into a hotel in Torrance with two suitcases that contained 26.8 kilograms (59.1 pounds) of methamphetamine and four kilograms (8.9 pounds) of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Delrio was subsequently arrested at the hotel as part of a law enforcement operation and also was found to be carrying a loaded .45-caliber Colt firearm in his waistband.

          Delrio’s criminal history includes felony convictions in California state court for possession of methamphetamine in 1993, transportation and sale of a controlled substance in 1995, unlawful taking of a vehicle in 1996, and carjacking in 2003, according to court documents.

          This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

          This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin B. Reidy and Matthew J. Rosenbaum of the General Crimes Section.