Stockton Meth Ringleader Gets 16 Years

STOCKTON, CA – A major player in a cross-country methamphetamine pipeline is headed to federal prison. Jose Manuel Ontiveros Verdugo, 40, of Stockton, received a 16-year sentence today after being convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd, a blow against a network that flooded streets and states with deadly drugs.

The case, spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a coalition of federal and local agencies, peeled back layers of a sophisticated operation that ran from July 2019 to December 2019. Court documents reveal Verdugo and his co-conspirator, Jorge Omar Arredondo-Garcia, 47, of Lodi, weren’t small-time dealers. They were orchestrating the movement of significant quantities of methamphetamine, not just within Stockton but across state lines.

Undercover operatives bought a staggering 11 pounds of methamphetamine and a half-pound of heroin directly from the organization. But that was just what made it to the streets. Law enforcement also managed to intercept two major shipments: 50 pounds of methamphetamine bound for Nebraska and a 21-pound haul destined for Pennsylvania. These busts alone demonstrate the scale of the operation and the potential harm it could have caused.

Arredondo-Garcia pleaded guilty today to the same charge as Verdugo, and now faces a potential life sentence and a $10 million fine. His sentencing is scheduled for November 24, 2025, leaving ample time for the court to consider the full weight of his actions and apply federal sentencing guidelines. The actual penalty will be determined by Judge Drozd.

The investigation isn’t over. Charges are still pending against Gregorio Ontiveros Verdugo, 42, of Morada; Alberto Navarro Zapata, 39, of Stockton; and Wilfredo Reyes, 50, of Manteca. Authorities remind the public that these are merely allegations at this stage, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is leading the prosecution.

This case was conducted under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a multi-agency initiative designed to dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations. As Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez stated, the goal is to disrupt and destroy these networks, and this conviction represents a significant step in that ongoing fight. More information on OCDETF can be found at Justice.gov/OCDETF.