A federal jury in Oakland has convicted Maxfer Palma, a 29-year-old Honduran national, on multiple drug trafficking charges after authorities discovered significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in his East Oakland apartment, where several children also lived.
Palma was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on premises where children were present or resided, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The verdict came after a five-day trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar.
Evidence presented during the trial indicated that officers from the Oakland Police Department found more than 400 grams of methamphetamine and over 200 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl inside a black backpack hidden in Palma’s bedroom closet. The same backpack also contained digital scales, other controlled substances, a firearm, and ammunition. In addition, law enforcement located another green backpack with four bricks of methamphetamine weighing more than 1,700 grams concealed in a dog crate in the living room.
Multiple children were present at the apartment immediately before police executed their search warrant and recovered the drugs and weaponry. Two minors appeared to be under the age of ten.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian stated: “We will continue to aggressively prosecute dealers who poison our communities with these dangerous substances. The defendant’s decisions to store deadly drugs and a firearm in a home where multiple children live showed a callous disregard for human life. We thank the jury for bringing him to account for his inexcusable actions.”
San Francisco Division DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris added: “DEA is focused on breaking the command, control, and distribution networks responsible for the fentanyl crisis. Our top operational priority is to eliminate the cartels and foreign terrorist organizations responsible for flooding the United States with fentanyl. Illicit fentanyl is closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic, just two milligrams – a few grains of salt – can be deadly.”
Trial evidence included text messages from Palma’s phone showing he distributed narcotics—including fentanyl and methamphetamine—in East Oakland and San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood between 2022 and 2023.
The jury acquitted Palma on one count each related to an incident involving drug distribution charges stemming from April 22, 2023, in San Francisco’s Tenderloin area.
Palma remains in federal custody pending sentencing scheduled for July 17, 2026 before Judge Tigar. He faces potential sentences ranging from ten years to life imprisonment as well as millions of dollars in fines under various federal statutes governing drug trafficking offenses involving firearms or locations where children are present.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Buszin and Emily Dahlke with assistance from Kevin Costello following an investigation led by the DEA along with Oakland Police Department and San Francisco Police Department.
