Multi-Agency Drug Investigation Results in Federal Indictments Charging 14 Defendants with Drug and Money Laundering Crimes

Portland, Ore. – On Monday, March 17, 2008, federal and state search warrants were executed on 14 residences in California, Oregon, and Washington. A total of 24 people were arrested on state and federal charges. A total of 14 people have been indicted in federal court on drug and money laundering charges connected to this investigation. Agents have seized approximately 15½ pounds of methamphetamine, 4½ pounds of marijuana, 1½ kilograms of cocaine, 5 firearms, 14 vehicles, and approximately $83,000.

Eight defendants made their initial appearances in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta on Tuesday, March 18, 2008. Today one defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Dennis J. Hubel. The remaining defendants are considered fugitives.

U.S Attorney Karin Immergut praised the cooperation and diligence of this multi-agency effort to eviscerate a significant drug trafficking organization.

"This case proves how powerful partnerships can be," said FBI Assistant Special Agent Alan J. Peters. "We could not have accomplished this much without the outstanding dedication and commitment of literally hundreds of local, state, and federal law enforcement officers. This success is a result of their work, and we can't say thank you enough to them."

This investigation involved the cooperation and participation of the following agencies for the past nine months: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Regional Organized Crime and Narcotics (ROCN) Team; Westside Interagency Narcotics (WIN) Team; Portland Police Bureau’s Crime Reduction Unit, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigative (IRS-CI), and the Modesto, California based HIDTA Task Force.

ROCN includes the following agencies: Portland Police Bureau; Gresham Police Department; Tigard Police Department; Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington and Columbia County Sheriff’s Offices; Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington County District Attorney’s Offices; Oregon State Police, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FBI, and the United States Attorney’s Office. WIN includes: Washington County Sheriff's Office, Tigard Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, Beaverton Police Department, the Oregon National Guard, and the FBI.

In addition to the agencies listed above, these agencies assisted in the arrests and searches on Monday, March 17, 2008: Clark-Skamania Drug Task Force; Metro Gang Enforcement Team (MGET); Washington County Interagency Gang Enforcement Team (IGET); Portland Police Bureau’s Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT); Washington County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Negotiation Team (TNT); Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU); Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU); and the Gresham Police Department’s Street Crime Unit.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Kerin, Jane Shoemaker, and Ethan Knight.

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