Lorenzo Valerio-Popoca, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Florida 2025

Tampa, FL – In a shocking turn of events, a federal jury has found Lorenzo Valerio-Popoca, a 31-year-old Mexican national, guilty of two counts of conspiring to traffic methamphetamine in Hillsborough and Manatee counties.

According to testimony presented at trial, Valerio-Popoca brokered and coordinated the delivery of a half kilogram of methamphetamine in Palmetto on January 29, 2018. A month later, he brokered and coordinated the delivery of 2 kilograms of methamphetamine in Sun City Center on March 30, 2018.

However, Valerio-Popoca remained a fugitive until November 2022, when he was arrested for trafficking 10 kilograms of methamphetamine in Pasadena, Texas.

As a result of his conviction, Valerio-Popoca faces a minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison on each count. His sentencing hearing is set for October 29, 2025.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasadena (Texas) Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Pardo.

The conviction is a significant blow to the methamphetamine trafficking ring, which has been wreaking havoc in the Tampa Bay area for years. The community can now rest easier knowing that one of the key players has been brought to justice.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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