Five Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine from California to Southern Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS – Five individuals have been sentenced to prison for trafficking methamphetamine that was shipped through the mail from California to Austin, Minnesota, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to court documents, between the fall of 2021 and the summer of 2022, Michael Anthony Ortiz, 44, of San Jose, California, Esteban Ambriz, Jr., 22, of Austin, Lori Beth Luna, 32, of Austin, Angela Dawn Martin, 26, of Austin, and Kyria Idarmis Bautista Roldan, 34, of Albert Lea, engaged in a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine from California to Austin, Minnesota. Ortiz, who was based in California, would send packages of high purity methamphetamine to Ambriz, Luna, Martin, Roldan, and other members involved in the conspiracy, to distribute throughout the Austin area.

All five defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Roldan was sentenced on November 16, 2023, to 100 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Ortiz was sentenced on October 18, 2023, to 180 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Martin was sentenced on September 27, 2023, to 96 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Ambriz and Luna were sentenced on August 22, 2023, to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, respectively. U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery imposed the sentences. 

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team, South Central Drug Task Force, Cannon River Drug Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S Marshals Service, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, Austin Police Department, and San Jose Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst prosecuted the case.