Santa Maria gang member and convicted felon sentenced to 15 years for drug offenses and illegal possession of ammunition

A Santa Barbara County gang member and convicted violent felon was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for possession of methamphetamine and illegally possessing dozens of rounds of ammunition, including some found in a “ghost gun.”

Rodolfo Uriarte, 41, of Santa Maria, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett.

Uriarte pleaded guilty Feb. 28 to all five felony charges he faced: two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and two counts of being a felon and prohibited person in possession of ammunition. Uriarte has been in federal custody since November 2023.

“Thanks to the diligent efforts of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, a violent criminal was apprehended and has now received a lengthy prison sentence,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Working together, we can make our streets safer by removing repeat offenders from our communities.”

According to court documents, in October 2023, as part of an investigation into Uriarte’s drug and firearms trafficking, police conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 110 grams of methamphetamine from Uriarte, who is a member of the Santa Maria Northwest street gang. On November 6, 2023, law enforcement officers conducted a second controlled purchase of 105 grams of methamphetamine from Uriarte, as well as a “ghost gun” – a firearm without a serial number – loaded with 10 rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition.

Separately, Santa Maria police arrested Uriarte in October 2023 after they conducted a traffic stop, a stop that revealed the gray Lexus sedan Uriarte was driving had been reported stolen. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a rifle case, three AR-15 magazines, two of which were loaded with .223 caliber ammunition for a total of approximately 53 rounds of ammunition. Police also seized 38 rounds of 9mm ammunition in a backpack in the backseat of the vehicle, four plastic baggies containing methamphetamine and a knotted glove containing methamphetamine. In total, Uriarte had approximately 86.3 grams of methamphetamine in his possession.

Uriarte is not legally allowed to possess ammunition due to his criminal history, which includes misdemeanor convictions in Santa Barbara County Superior Court for second-degree robbery in 2005, assault with a deadly weapon in 2010 and a domestic violence conviction in 2014. Uriarte also possessed the ammunition, knowing he was subject to a June 2022 restraining order by the Superior Court of Santa Barbara County.

The FBI, Santa Maria Police Department and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.

Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas J. Magaña of the General Crimes Unit and Stephanie L. Orrick of the Orange County Office prosecuted this case.