SANTA BARBARA, CA — Rodolfo Uriarte, 41, a convicted felon and documented member of the Santa Maria Northwest street gang, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his involvement in distributing methamphetamine and illegally possessing ammunition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced today.
In October 2023, Uriarte was involved in a controlled drug purchase where he sold approximately 110 grams of methamphetamine. A second controlled purchase took place in November 2023, where Uriarte sold another 105 grams of methamphetamine and a ghost gun—a firearm lacking a serial number—loaded with 10 rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition.
Separately, Santa Maria police arrested Uriarte during a traffic stop in October 2023. The vehicle he was driving, a gray Lexus sedan, had been reported stolen. Officers conducted a subsequent search of the vehicle, discovering a rifle case and three AR-15 magazines, two of which were loaded with 53 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition. Police also recovered 38 rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition and 86.3 grams of methamphetamine from a backpack in the back seat.
Uriarte’s criminal history includes felony convictions for second-degree robbery (2005), assault with a deadly weapon (2010), and domestic violence (2014), all of which prohibit him from possessing ammunition. His illegal activities and criminal background led to his lengthy prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada praised the efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors, stating, “Thanks to the diligent efforts of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, a violent felon was apprehended and has now received a lengthy prison term. Working together, we can make our streets safer by removing repeat offenders from our communities.”
