Major Drug Trafficking Organizations Busted

Searches and Arrests Cap Year-Long Investigation Portland, Ore. - On Thursday, May 15, 2008, several hundred local and federal law enforcement officers served 17 arrest warrants and 13 search warrants on locations from Portland to Woodburn, Oregon, in a major drug trafficking investigation. Authorities arrested another individual on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 as part of this investigation. Three people remain fugitives. A federal grand jury issued sealed indictments on Thursday, May 8, 2008, and Wednesday, May 14, 2008, charging a total of 20 people with conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. In addition, three of the defendants, Mariana Franco-Maldonado, Sosimo Peraza-Velazquez, and Oscar Francisco Macias-Ovalle, face charges for distribution of methamphetamine in the presence of children. During Thursdays arrests and searches, 14 children were taken into protective custody. In addition, an infant was taken into protective custody as part of Tuesdays arrest. Twelve defendants made their initial appearances in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Donald C. Ashmanskas on Friday, May 16, 2008. PDF copies of the indictments, which list the defendants and charges, are attached to this release. All 12 defendants have been detained pending further court proceedings. This weeks arrests and searches mark the second phase of an extensive investigation stretching back almost a year. The investigation involved a series of court-ordered wiretaps. On March 17, 2008 more than 20 people in Oregon, Washington and California were arrested on state and federal charges in connection with this investigation. Yesterday, federal agents and local officers and deputies seized approximately: ¢ 7 vehicles ¢ 13 pounds of methamphetamine ¢ 1 kilogram of cocaine ¢ 2 lbs of marijuana ¢ 9 firearms ¢ $80,000 cash ¢ $16,000 seized account In total, federal agents and local officers and deputies seized approximately: ¢ 21 vehicles ¢ 36 ½ pounds of methamphetamine ¢ 2 ½ kilogram of cocaine ¢ 6 ½ lbs of marijuana ¢ 24 firearms ¢ $163,000 cash Meth is a poison in our community. It is particularly reprehensible when dealing drugs takes place in the presence of children. said, U.S. Attorney Karin J. Immergut. I commend all of the law enforcement agencies who were involved in this complex and long term investigation. An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.