Portland Drug Kingpin Lupercio-Quezada Convicted

PORTLAND, Ore. — The federal justice system dealt a severe blow to drug trafficking with the jury’s guilty verdict against Portland’s Amadeo Lupercio-Quezada, 39. Lupercio-Quezada was found guilty after a two-day trial of conspiring to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute, as well as possession of heroin and cocaine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Court documents revealed that Lupercio-Quezada, along with co-defendant Maribel Sebastian-Evangelista, had been distributing vast quantities of methamphetamine in Multnomah County. The detective’s investigation led to four controlled purchases of meth at Lupercio-Quezada’s residence on E. Burnside Street, where officers secured ounce quantities of the drug.

Following the controlled buys, a search warrant was executed, leading to the seizure of distribution quantities of methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, cash, and a Glock model 42 semi-automatic pistol. The evidence was overwhelming, as Lupercio-Quezada’s ID card was also found at the scene.

With the jury’s guilty verdict, Lupercio-Quezada faces life in prison, along with consecutive mandatory minimum sentences for drug and gun charges. A $250,000 fine and supervised release for life await him, to be sentenced on August 21 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman.

This victory against the drug trade was the result of a thorough investigation by the Gresham Police Department Special Enforcement Team and aggressive prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kemp L. Strickland and Sarah Barr for the District of Oregon.