A California man today changed his plea to guilty in the seizure of more than seven pounds of methamphetamine — the largest amount confiscated in a single incident on Kauai. 

Steve Pete Orozco II pleaded guilty in federal court this morning to meth distribution and firearms related charges before U.S. District Court Judge Susan Oki Mollway. Orozco had previously pled not guilty to charges of drug conspiracy and methamphetamine distribution.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 12 on the following charges: two counts of intent to distribute methamphetamine, for which he faces life imprisonment and a fine of up to $10 million for each count; one count of possession of a firearm, for which he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Orozco was convicted in California in 2013 on felony drug charges and was prohibited from having a firearm.

He recently moved to Kauai and was living with his cousin, Andrew Martinez, at a Laukona Street home.

Martinez last week pleaded not guilty to meth distribution charges.

Kauai police arrested Orozco and Martinez on March 8 in connection with a drug deal at a Walmart parking lot after an informant bought 85.8 grams of methamphetamine, police said.

Following the drug deal, a search warrant was executed at the Laukona Street home, and officers seized nine, gallon-sized plastic bags containing about 7.3 pounds of methamphetamine. Police estimated the drugs had a street value of $1.6 million.

A stolen a semi-automatic 9 mm handgun with its serial number scratched off was also recovered.