14 charged in region-wide drug sweep

A La Grande man is among 14 people charged recently in connection with a long-term drug investigation led by the Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics team.

According to a press release from the United States Attorney’s office, more than 100 law enforcement officers from from local, state and federal agencies executed 22 search warrants and arrested 10 people Thursday on federal charges in connection with the investigation of a drug distribution organization.

Among those people was John Knight, 63, of 1904 Alder St. He and others were indicted in federal court Friday with conspiracy to distribute more than five grams of methamphetamine.

Since April 2009, law enforcement officers have been investigating a methamphetamine distribution organization, and an outdoor marijuana cultivation conspiracy, both allegedly involving Carlos Joaquin Barragan.

During the course of that investigation, on Aug. 19, 2009, in Grant County, officers seized 23,000 marijuana plants growing on U.S. Forest Service land, three guns including an SKS assault rifle, and arrested four individuals found living and working in the marijuana grow.

The investigation culminated on Oct. 1 with the execution of search warrants at three residences, resulting in the seizure of three more firearms, several pounds of marijuana, and marijuana seeds.

Barragan and six other individuals involved in cultivating the 23,000 marijuana plants were indicted for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana.

In addition to Barragan, the indictment charges Sergio Escalera-Garcia, 35, and Ricardo Bravo, 30, of Roosevelt, Wash. Barragan made his first appearance in court on Oct. 2.

Four other defendants were charged in separate indictments issued in September 2009: Carmen Ramirez- Romero, 21, Baldemar Garcia-Mendoza, 24, Efrain Garcia-Mendoza, 25, all of Fife, Wash., and Jose Luis Escalera-Garcia, 23, of Roosevelt. Baldemar Garcia- Mendoza, Jose Luis Escalera-Garcia and Ramirez-Romero were also indicted for possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime.

The charge of conspiracy to manufacture more than 1,000 marijuana plants carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $4 million.

Possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of 60 months in prison.

Thursday detectives also executed search warrants relating to a methamphetamine conspiracy allegedly led by Barragan. Detectives seized more than six ounces of methamphetamine, a dozen firearms, scales, drug paraphernalia, drug records and cell phones related to the investigation in search warrants executed at 10 residences.

Barragan and seven other individuals were charged with conspiracy to distribute more than five grams of methamphetamine.

Three men and two women were arraigned in federal court in Portland Friday on those charges: Barragan; Knight; Marietta Gallagher, 59, of Irrigon; Matilda Williams, 49, of Hermiston; and Rogelio Chavez, 29, of Hermiston.

Shane Soros, 42, and Guillermo Morfin Ortiz, 47, also of Hermiston, are scheduled to appear in court today. Pedro Soto-Contreras, 23, of Pasco, appeared in federal court in Yakima Friday.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment, and a fine of $2 million.

The investigation was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force-

sponsored joint effort between federal, state and local agencies, led by the Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team, with the assistance of many agencies, including the local MERIT drug task force.

“This case demonstrates a great cooperative working relationship between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the Oregon Department of Justice, and the Umatilla and Grant County District Attorneys’ Offices,” said Kent S. Robinson, acting U. S. attorney for the District of Oregon.

All defendants pled not guilty to all charges. An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Trial is set for Dec. 8 before U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Jones.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J. Martin and Suzanne Bratis.