District of Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland woman made her first appearance in federal court yesterday after allegedly assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

Lisa Miyamoto, 56, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.

According to court documents, on October 19, 2025, federal officers deployed outside the gates of the ICE facility to clear the vehicle entrance for vehicles to exit the facility. Miyamoto forcefully struck an officer with a wooden tambourine and was arrested by officers.

Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 36 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed near ICE facilities, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.

Miyamoto made her first appearance in federal court yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.

Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison. 

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging a Portland resident with damaging cameras affixed to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building on June 12, 2025.

Alistair Sidener, 20, made an initial appearance in federal court last Friday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Sidener was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.

Depredation of federal property in an amount exceeding $1,000 is a felony punishable by up to ten years in prison.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

Since June 13, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged 37 defendants with offenses committed near ICE facilities, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.

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

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland, Oregon, man, who is a registered sex offender, was sentenced to federal prison today for possession of over 200 images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

David Lee Cannon, 36, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release.

According to court documents, in February 2024, law enforcement officials discovered Cannon was collecting CSAM images during an investigation into Cannon’s uncle. Cannon sought images from his uncle over Telegram, an encrypted messaging application. Additional evidence of CSAM material was found after a search of Cannon’s devices.

Cannon is a registered sex offender after a 2009 conviction for possessing CSAM material.

“The pursuit of individuals who exploit and abuse children is our highest priority,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “With today’s sentence, Mr. Cannon will spend the next 10 years behind bars, unable to victimize any other children.”

“HSI leverages advanced technology and every resource within its legal authority to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who possess child exploitation and sexual abuse material,” said April Miller, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge. “Our unwavering commitment is to protect the most vulnerable and ensure that those who prey on children are held accountable.”

Cannon was arrested in Milwaukie, Oregon, after HSI agents tracked his cellphone.

Cannon was charged by information on April 28, 2025. On June 26, 2025, Cannon pleaded guilty to Possession of Child Pornography.

This case was investigated by HSI with assistance from Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mira Chernick and Paul Maloney.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland woman made her first appearance in federal court yesterday after allegedly assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

Elizabeth Leslie, 32, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.

According to court documents, on October 18, 2025, federal officers arrested Leslie after she lunged forward and struck an officer in the chest when officers were trying to clear a path for vehicles exiting the ICE facility.

Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 35 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.

Leslie made her first appearance in federal court yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.

Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison. 

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

EUGENE, Ore.— A Madras, Oregon, man, who is a registered sex offender, was sentenced to federal prison today for attempting to persuade a purported child to meet him for sex and to send him sexually explicit material.

Ernesto Torres, 45, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and a 20-year term of supervised release.

According to court documents, starting in July of 2024, Torres used Facebook Messenger to chat with an apparent 15-year-old girl. The “child” was an undercover deputy with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. In the ensuing months, Torres requested sexual images, discussed sexual acts he wished to perform, and tried to set up a meeting with the decoy child. On December 1, 2024, Torres drove from Madras to Redmond to meet with the child. In the chat records, Torres expressed a desire to take the child to a cabin roughly 50 miles away.

On December 19, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Torres with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. Torres was located and arrested by agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) pursuant to a federal warrant on January 10, 2025. On July 15, 2025, he pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

This case was investigated by HSI and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Matthew Nelson, Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, and William M. McLaren, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.justice.gov/psc.

PORTLAND, Ore.—An Italian man unlawfully residing in Oregon was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for his role in a large multi-state criminal conspiracy that stole more than $2.4 million dollars of benefits from hundreds of low-income and food insecure individuals and families.

Giovanni Spirea, 29, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $61,874.32 in restitution.

According to court documents, from August 2023 to October 2024, Spirea and his co-conspirators used electronic skimming devices to steal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, encoded the stolen data on cloned Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, and illegally purchased items with the stolen benefits. Spirea shared stolen account information with other members of the organization, who, along with him, used the stolen benefits to purchase large quantities of infant formula, energy drinks, and other SNAP-eligible nonperishable food items from grocery stores in Oregon, Washington, and California, and through websites associated with grocery stores offering curb-side pickup.

Over the course of the conspiracy, the group purchased more than 120,000 pounds of goods and stored them at residential properties and storage units in Oregon and Washington until they were packaged and transported to California in private vehicles or via commercial carriers. The fraudulent goods, with an estimated value of more than $2.4 million, were then sold on the black market.

“Protecting government funded programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program isn’t just about preserving funds – it’s about safeguarding trust in a vital lifeline that millions of families depend on to put food on the table,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “Today’s sentencing should deter perpetrators from defrauding American families and the federal government for personal gain.”

“The USDA OIG is dedicated to upholding the integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. We will work relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice and hold conspirators accountable for stealing SNAP benefits from American families. We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon Department of Justice, Vancouver Police Department, and all our partner agencies on this joint investigation,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG) Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Dionida.

“The theft of benefits intended for families in need is a serious crime,” said Portland Police Chief Bob Day. “We remain committed to holding accountable those who exploit public resources for personal gain.”

“By siphoning millions of dollars in government funds intended for food-insecure households, this illegal criminal alien proved to be one of the worst of the worst,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “Through the strength of our law enforcement partnerships, HSI remains steadfast in protecting the integrity of our nation’s treasury and pursuing the criminals engaged in financial crimes that defraud our nation’s assistance programs.”

On October 9, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 16-count indictment charging Spirea and sixteen co-conspirators. Spirea was charged with Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Unauthorized Use of Access Devices.

On July 30, 2025, Spirea pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment charging Conspiracy to Defraud the United States.

The case was investigated by the USDA OIG, HSI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Portland Police Bureau, the Oregon Department of Justice, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the Vancouver Police Department, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Gresham Police Department, and the Redmond, Washington Police Department Financial Fraud and Identification Theft Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Geoffrey A. Barrow and Nicholas D. Meyers, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Washington and Central District of California.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Brian Keith Kapileo Nepaial, 38, of Aloha, has been charged by criminal complaint with pointing a laser at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Helicopter and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

According to court documents, on October 3, 2025, a CBP helicopter was struck by a green laser, causing it to abort its planned landing. The flight crew observed an individual walking near a residence and disappearing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified the residence and, on October 10, 2025, executed a federal search warrant at the residence. FBI special agents seized a laser from the bedroom of Kapileo Nepaial and found over 100 grams of methamphetamine and evidence of drug trafficking.

Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 34 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed in connection with the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.

“Laser strikes are a serious matter with potentially deadly repercussions. They put the lives of the pilots and the public at risk. Aiming or pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime and will be prosecuted,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.  

Kapileo Nepaial is currently in Washington County custody on a parole violation.

Aiming a laser pointer is punishable by up to five years in federal prison. Possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute is punishable by up to 40 years in federal prison.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland woman made her first appearance in federal court today after assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

Oriana Korol, 38, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.

According to court documents, on the evening of October 12, 2025, federal officers detained Korol after she interfered with an arrest of another subject. Korol kicked and bit a federal officer as she was being detained. Officers then arrested her for assaulting a federal officer.

Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 34 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.

Korol made her first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.

Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison. 

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Hillsboro resident made her first appearance in federal court today after assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

Samuel A. Westcott, 19, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.

According to court documents, on the evening of October 12, 2025, federal officers detained Westcott after she physically resisted officers’ attempts to clear a path for vehicles exiting the ICE facility. Westcott physically engaged with the officers trying to detain her and kicked a federal officer several times as she was being detained. Officers then arrested her for assaulting a federal officer.

“We will not tolerate violence against federal law enforcement officers. Any assault on those who serve and protect our communities is an assault on the rule of law,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 33 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.

Westcott made her first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.

Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison. 

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

EUGENE, Ore.— A Turner, Oregon, man was sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison today for drug trafficking following a multi-agency investigation led by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO).

Ryan Gossett, 39, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release.

According to court documents, on April 26, 2024, Gossett was apprehended in Bend, Oregon after fleeing prosecution in Marion County, Oregon for armed robbery. When apprehended, Gossett was in possession of a handgun and small amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Two days later, investigators with the DCSO Criminal Detectives Division executed a search warrant on Gossett’s vehicle, locating over 900 grams of methamphetamine, 330 grams of fentanyl, and firearm magazines.

Gossett has multiple prior convictions for delivery of a controlled substance.

Gossett was indicted on June 20, 2024, and pled guilty on July 9, 2025, to a single count of Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 500 grams of Methamphetamine.

The case was investigated by the DCSO with assistance from the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, and the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Andrew R. Doyle, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. 

PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today after robbing a KeyBank branch with a loaded gun.

James Michael Wallace, 55, is a career offender and was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,437 for losses associated with this and other robberies.

According to court documents, on February 28, 2025, Wallace entered the KeyBank branch located on Woodstock Avenue in Portland. Wallace approached a teller and pressed a loaded gun to the teller’s torso demanding the teller open the cash drawer. Wallace left the bank with $856 in cash, leaving behind his gun. At the time of the robbery, Wallace was on federal supervision for a prior federal bank robbery conviction.

On August 27, 2025, Wallace pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with Armed Bank Robbery.

This case was investigated by the Portland Police Bureau and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine A. Rykken.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Warm Springs, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for using online social media and messaging platforms to coerce and sexually exploit a 15-year-old minor victim.

Leonard Polk, 25, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in December 2024, Polk met the minor victim through Snapchat, an online messaging application. Using Snapchat and Facebook Messenger, Polk persuaded the minor victim to send sexually explicit images. Polk then picked up the minor victim and brought her to his house on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, where he sexually abused her on multiple occasions.

Polk was arrested in Washington on January 21, 2025, and the minor victim was rescued, after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) received information that Polk had brought the minor victim from Oregon to Washington.

“Protecting children remains our highest priority. This case serves as a stark reminder of the very real dangers that exist on social media and the predators who use these platforms to exploit our youth,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Let there be no doubt: if you target children in our community, we will use every resource at our disposal to protect them and ensure you are held fully accountable.”

On February 11, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 2-count indictment charging Polk with sexual abuse of a minor and sexual abuse – incapable victim.

On July 14, 2025, Polk pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor.

This case was investigated by the FBI Portland’s Bend Resident Agency and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Kelley.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. 

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man made his first appearance in federal court today after assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

Alexander Jay Boyce, 38, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.

According to court documents, on the evening of October 5, 2025, Boyce was part of a group of individuals encroaching on the driveway of the ICE building in South Portland. Law enforcement officers gave multiple warnings to the group to stay off federal property and began to clear the driveway. Rather than comply as directed, Boyce spit on the officer’s helmet. Federal officers immediately arrested Boyce. 

“Nobody spits on the brave men and women of federal law enforcement and gets away with it. If you spit on a federal law enforcement officer, you will be hit with federal charges,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 31 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.

Boyce made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.

Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison. 

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Gervais man made his first appearance in federal court today after assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

Jairin Anzaldua-Ervin, 29, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.

According to court documents, on October 4, 2025, Anzaldua-Ervin was part of a group of individuals trespassing on the driveway of the ICE building in South Portland. Law enforcement officers gave multiple warnings to the group to clear the driveway. Rather than move as directed, Anzaldua-Ervin forcefully threw a water bottle at a law enforcement officer, hitting the officer in the chest. Anzaldua-Ervin was then taken into custody for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer. 

“Throwing water bottles, or any object for that matter, at federal law enforcement officers is not protesting – it’s a crime – and perpetrators will be arrested and federally prosecuted,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “I thank the brave members of federal law enforcement who have protected federal employees and the ICE building for more than 110 consecutive nights.”

Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 30 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.

Anzaldua-Ervin made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.  He was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.

Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison. 

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A man made his first appearance in federal court today after assaulting two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents following his arrest on federal drug distribution charges.

Ezequiel Ramos Hernandez, 28, has been charged by criminal complaint with multiple felony crimes including Assaulting Federal Agents and Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.

According to court documents, on October 1, 2025, the FBI, along with the Woodburn and Salem Police Departments, executed a search warrant at Ramos Hernandez’s Woodburn hotel room. Agents seized distributable quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. FBI agents arrested Ramos Hernandez and began driving him to be lodged on federal drug distribution charges. During the transport, Ramos Hernandez managed to escape from the moving vehicle while handcuffed. Two FBI agents chased Ramos Hernandez who actively resisted and was observed kicking one of the FBI agents in the face multiple times.  Ultimately, FBI agents were able to subdue Ramos Hernandez with the assistance of multiple civilian witnesses. Ramos Hernandez later told an FBI agent that he tried to escape from agents because he thought he was being deported. 

Defendant Ramos-Hernandez made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was detained pending further court proceedings.

Assaulting a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison. 

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A man made his first appearance in federal court today after pointing a laser at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter in the Portland metro area.

Hector Miranda-Mendoza, 35, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft.

According to court documents, on the evening of September 27, 2025, law enforcement identified Miranda-Mendoza as an individual who targeted multiple aircraft with a laser pointer, including a CBP helicopter. Lasers can cause blindness and spotting in vision, making it a challenge for pilots to identify other aircraft and obstacles, which could lead to a catastrophic event. CBP used an on-board mapping system to locate the origin of the laser at a Portland residence.  Investigating officers contacted the defendant who admitted he recently purchased the laser and knew it was strong. Defendant reported he thought the helicopter was a drone and he remembered flashing the helicopter four or five times. Law enforcement seized the laser pointer and referred this matter for federal prosecution.   

“Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft endangers lives and is a federal crime. This conduct put the lives of CBP personnel and the community directly at risk, and my office will aggressively pursue those who engage in this illegal activity,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

“The laser strike on a CBP helicopter over the skies of Portland put our community at risk and endangered the lives of federal law enforcement officers. This activity is unacceptable, and FBI Portland will aggressively pursue anyone anywhere targeting federal agents, especially those currently holding the line at the Portland ICE facility,” said Douglas A. Olson, FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge.

Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 29 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.

Miranda-Mendoza made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was detained pending further court proceedings.

Aiming a laser pointer is punishable by up to five years in federal prison. 

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Defendant Julie Winters, 47, of Portland, pleaded guilty yesterday to Felony Intimidation of a Federal Officer and Resisting Arrest.

According to court documents, on June 24, 2025, Winters brandished a large knife and swung it back and forth at officers in an attempt to intimidate the officers when they engaged with Winters at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

On August 20, 2025, Winters reported to the Pretrial Services Office after violating the conditions of her pretrial release. As federal law enforcement attempted to arrest Winters on a federal warrant, she resisted arrest by causing forcible contact with U.S. Deputy Marshals after the U.S. Marshals attempted to place the defendant under arrest.

Winters will be sentenced in December 2025 before a U.S. District Court Judge.

These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Protective Service, ICE, and the United States Marshals Service. These cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland woman made her first appearance in federal court yesterday after assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

Katherine Meagan Vogel, 39, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.

According to court documents, on the evening of September 30, 2025, federal officers detained Vogel after she applied red paint to the driveway of the ICE facility. Federal officers escorted Vogel to the ICE facility to interview her for conduct related to depredation of government property. While federal officers processed her, Vogel struck one of the federal officers in the jaw with a closed fist. Officers then arrested her for the additional charge of assaulting a federal officer.

“Violence and property damage at the ICE building or any other federal building will not be tolerated. If you assault a federal law enforcement officer or damage federal property, you will be arrested and federally prosecuted,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 28 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.

Vogel made her first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.

Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon and the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice filed a petition to enforce administrative subpoenas issued to four Oregon counties, including Clackamas, Washington, Multnomah, and Marion, seeking information to locate 10 violent felons who are likely subject to removal from the United States.

Following lengthy prison sentences, Oregon correction officials released 10 violent felons, who are likely subject to removal from the United States, into Oregon communities. Before their release, federal immigration authorities sent immigration detainers to Oregon officials seeking notification before Oregon officials released these criminal aliens into the community. State officials did not honor those detainers, like many others since 2021, and released the following 10 violent criminals into Oregon communities:

Criminal Alien 1 was first convicted in 2004 of Assault in the Second Degree, Assault in the Third Degree, and Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree and sentenced to over 60 months in prison. In 2008, Criminal Alien 1 was convicted of Manslaughter in the First Degree and sentenced to over 150 months in prison and post-prison supervision. He was released into the community in 2023.

Criminal Alien 2 was convicted in 2013 of three counts of Rape in the Third Degree and three counts of Sodomy in the Third Degree involving a minor child under the age of 16. Criminal Alien 2 was sentenced to over 90 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. He was subsequently convicted of nine counts of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree and sentenced to several years in prison to run concurrent to the sentence in the prior case. He was released into the community in 2022.

Criminal Alien 3 was convicted in 2011 of Kidnapping in the First Degree, Burglary in the First Degree, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Assault in the Fourth Degree. He was sentenced to over 150 months in prison and post-prison supervision. He was released into the community in 2025.

Criminal Alien 4 was convicted in 2018 of Assault in the Second Degree, Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, Attempt to Commit a Class B Felony, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was sentenced to over 60 months in prison and post-prison supervision. He released into the community in 2023.

Criminal Alien 5 was convicted in 2010 of two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree involving two separate victims who were under the age of 14. He was sentenced to over 60 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2022.

Criminal Alien 6 was convicted in 2015 of Rape in the First Degree. In his plea petition, he admitted an aggravating fact alleged in the indictment – that during this offense, he used or threatened to use a weapon. He was sentenced to over 90 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2023.

Criminal Alien 7 was convicted in 2015 of Rape in the First Degree. He was sentenced to over 120 months in prison with a lengthy term of post-prison supervision and required to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2023.

Criminal Alien 8 was convicted of three counts of Rape in the First Degree involving a child under the age of 12 and two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree involving a child under the age of 14. He was sentenced to over 150 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2022.

Criminal Alien 9 was convicted in 2008 of Rape in the First Degree and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to over 90 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Shortly after completing that sentence, Criminal Alien 9 was convicted in 2016 of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to over 70 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and the continued requirement to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2022.

Criminal Alien 10 was convicted in federal court of possessing and using a fake Border Crossing Card to enter the United States in October 2012. In early January 2013, upon release from federal prison, he was transferred to Oregon for an outstanding warrant, where he was subsequently convicted of Robbery and Kidnapping in the First Degree. He was sentenced to over 100 months in prison. He was released into the community in 2023.

The information sought by federal authorities will assist with apprehending these violent criminal aliens in order to remove them from the United States. Since 2021, Oregon public officials have disregarded immigration detainers and have released violent felons, who are likely subject to removal from the United States, into Oregon communities.

“Removing violent criminal aliens from our local communities and country is a matter of public safety and a top priority for federal law enforcement,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. 

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man made his first appearance in federal court today after assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

Tomas Plancarte-Benson, 37, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.

According to court documents, on the evening of September 27, 2025, federal officers attempted to clear the driveway at the ICE facility. Plancarte-Benson was among a group of agitators blocking the driveway. Federal officials gave repeated verbal commands to “move” or “clear the driveway.” Rather than move when directed, Plancarte-Benson shoved a federal officer and retreated into the crowd. Federal officers subsequently found Plancarte-Benson near the ICE facility and arrested him for assaulting a federal officer.

“Violence at the ICE building or any other federal building will not be tolerated. If you assault a federal law enforcement officer, you will be arrested and prosecuted,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon has charged 27 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.

Plancarte-Benson made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.

Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison. 

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Michael John Peters, 42, of Portland, Oregon, has been charged with stealing mail from condominium and apartment complexes in Northwest and Southwest Portland.

According to court documents and information shared in court, from May to September 2025, Peters used counterfeit or modified postal keys to access mailboxes on at least 12 occasions. On September 23, 2025, U.S. Postal Inspectors executed a federal search warrant at an apartment in the Pearl District that Peters rented using a stolen identity. In the apartment, investigators found evidence of identity theft including approximately 300 pieces of U.S. mail that were not addressed to Peters, false identification documents, stolen identity documents, and counterfeit checks.

Peters made his first appearance in federal court yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case with assistance from the Portland Police Bureau. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.— A Dayton, Oregon, woman was sentenced today for defrauding the Department of Oregon Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

Cheryl Elizabeth Campos, 62, was sentenced to 25 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.

According to court documents, between January 2022 and June 2024, Campos misused her position as Quartermaster of the VFW to access the VFW’s bank accounts and embezzled large sums of money to her personal accounts. To conceal the embezzlement, Campos falsified financial documents, bank statements, and accounting records.

In total, Campos embezzled more than $1.7 million from the VFW’s accounts to her personal accounts. Campos used the funds to buy hundreds of crystals, semi-precious rocks, marbles, stones, and statues. She also used the funds for personal expenses, including making credit card payments and purchasing a vehicle for a family member.

On March 24, 2025, Campos was charged by criminal information with wire fraud.

On April 15, 2025, Campos pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Robert S. Trisotto, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

EUGENE, Ore.— Theodore Ernest Jokinen, 48, of Madras, made his first appearance in federal court yesterday after being charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on September 19, 2025, detectives from the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team (CODE) observed Jokinen driving westbound on Interstate 84 near The Dalles, Oregon. Investigators previously received information that Jokinen traveled to Yakima, Washington, and was returning to Oregon in possession of methamphetamine intended for distribution in the Central Oregon area. Jokinen was initially stopped by The Dalles Police Department for a traffic infraction. A certified narcotics detection K9 alerted on Jokinen’s vehicle. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Jokinen’s vehicle. This search revealed roughly ten pounds of prepackaged suspected methamphetamine inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Jokinen is currently on pretrial release in a Jefferson County felon in possession of a firearm case and has multiple prior convictions for delivery of a controlled substance.

The case is being investigated by the CODE and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from The Dalles Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Mid Columbia Interagency Narcotics Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Andrew R. Doyle, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. 

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.—Bryan Ochoa Diaz, 32, a resident of Tigard, Oregon, pleaded guilty today to money laundering related to proceeds of a government loan issued to his family-owned restaurant.

According to court documents, Ochoa Diaz, acting on behalf of Casa Colima Vancouver, Inc., applied for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan of $350,000. The loan was part of a Covid era relief program offered by the federal government. The terms of the loan required that funds be used solely as working capital for the company to alleviate economic injury caused by the disaster and that none of the funds would be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.

On August 16, 2021, the SBA transferred $350,000 into Casa Colima’s bank account. The next day, Ochoa Diaz misappropriated some of the funds by transferring $100,000 into his parents’ personal bank account. Later that same day, Ochoa Diaz wired the $100,000 to a mortgage company to apply to a mortgage his parents had on their home.

Ochoa Diaz is a reserve officer with the U.S. Coast Guard. He was charged by information with one count of money laundering. He made his initial appearance on September 5, 2025, and waived indictment by a grand jury. He pleaded guilty to that charge today and paid $350,000 in full restitution to the SBA.

Ochoa Diaz faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced on December 15, 2025, before a U.S. District Court Judge.

This case was investigated by the SBA, Office of Inspector General, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service. It is being prosecuted by Chris Cardani and Meredith Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

PORTLAND, Ore.— A Lake Oswego, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today to trafficking cocaine and laundering the proceeds through a business bank account to buy cryptocurrency.

Michael Wayne Frost, 47, pleaded guilty to distributing more than 50 kilograms of cocaine and laundering the money from selling the cocaine.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers engaged in multiple controlled purchases of cocaine from Frost. On July 2, 2024, a federal search warrant was served on Frost’s residence in Lake Oswego. Agents seized a kilogram of cocaine and about $20,000 in cash from the residence. Frost admitted to selling between 10-12 kilograms of cocaine per week. Agents later applied for additional warrants and seized approximately $509,000 in cash and cryptocurrency tied to the cocaine sales. Frost deposited some of the cash into a business bank account he controlled and then transferred funds to Robinhood, a platform he used to invest in cryptocurrency, in an effort to launder the drug proceeds.

On August 21, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a seven-count indictment charging Frost with distributing cocaine and money laundering.

Frost pleaded guilty today to one count of cocaine distribution and one count of money laundering. He also agreed to forfeit all of the seized cryptocurrency and cash.

Frost faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a 10 million dollar fine, and five years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on January 7, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Kemp Strickland and Christopher Cardani, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Two Honduran nationals unlawfully residing in Oregon made their first appearances in federal court today after being arrested for trafficking fentanyl in East Portland.

Omar Rodriguez-Salgado, 28, and Cesar Antonio Gutierrez-Doblado, 19, have been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.  

According to court documents, on September 18, 2025, investigators observed Rodriguez-Salgado in an area active for drug distribution and attempted to stop his vehicle. After a short pursuit, investigators obtained consent from Rodriguez-Salgado to search his vehicle and seized approximately 274 gross grams of suspected fentanyl, including packaging. 

Gutierrez-Doblado was arrested after police developed probable cause to believe Gutierrez-Doblado was distributing fentanyl. A search of Gutierrez-Doblado’s person, vehicle, and residence resulted in seizures of more than 3 gross kilograms of suspected fentanyl, including packaging, and approximately $85,885 in cash proceeds from suspected fentanyl trafficking.

Both defendants made their first appearances in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.  Both defendants were ordered detained pending further court proceedings. Arraignments have been scheduled for October 22, 2025.

These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Portland Police Bureau, and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, which all participate in the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program (HIDTA). They are being prosecuted by Scott Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 100 times more powerful than morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is potentially enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Warm Springs, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for assault resulting in serious bodily injury and prohibited possession of a firearm.

Antoine Scott, 28, was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in June 2023, Scott approached a truck on the Warm Springs reservation and began punching the passenger through the window. The passenger suffered a head injury as well as a hand injury requiring stitches.

After being released from custody, Scott absconded from pretrial supervision. When arrested in June 2024, police recovered two firearms from Scott’s residence. Jefferson County deputies also recovered methamphetamine from Scott’s sock.

On May 21, 2025, Scott pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and prohibited possession of a firearm.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Warm Springs Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pam Paaso.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Two Honduran nationals were extradited from Honduras to the United States to face charges for their roles in conspiring to distribute fentanyl in Oregon.

Teodoro Rodas Dubon, 32, and Erick Yojan Lopez Miralda, 38, made their initial appearances in federal court in Portland today.

According to court documents, special agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) learned that beginning in 2022, Rodas Dubon directed and controlled the distribution of bulk quantities of fentanyl throughout the Portland area. Following law enforcement actions against Rodas Dubon’s drug trafficking organization, Rodas Dubon returned to Honduras where he resumed coordinating the distribution of fentanyl throughout the Portland area. On February 22, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Rodas Dubon with conspiring to distribute fentanyl.

Additional court documents revealed Lopez-Miralda separately ran a fentanyl distribution cell operating in the Portland area in 2023. Following a multi-kilogram seizure of fentanyl, Lopez Miralda returned to Honduras. On April 3, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Lopez Miralda with conspiring to distribute fentanyl.

Rodas Dubon and Lopez Miralda were both arrested by Honduran authorities pursuant to provisional arrest warrants in January 2025. On September 15, 2025, both defendants were extradited to the United States to face federal charges in the District of Oregon. Both defendants made their initial appearances in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. They were each arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a jury trial scheduled to begin in November 2025.

“Rodas Dubon and Lopez Miralda’s extraditions to the District of Oregon send a critical message: the United States will relentlessly pursue and hold accountable those involved in trafficking fentanyl,” said United States Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “These cases reinforce our commitment to holding all individuals involved in illicit drug operations accountable for the devastating impact they’ve had in Oregon. I extend my gratitude to our federal and state partners and the Honduran authorities for their dedicated efforts in investigating, interdicting, and apprehending those involved, especially for the arrests and extraditions of Rodas Dubon and Lopez Miralda.”

“The Drug Enforcement Administration and our partners will aggressively pursue threats like these no matter where they come from,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Mr. Rodas Dubon and Mr. Lopez Miralda are accused of serious crimes in the United States and we look forward to seeking justice in Oregon.”

These cases were investigated by the DEA with assistance from the DEA Tegucigalpa, Honduras Country Office, the Tigard Police Department, the Sherwood Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team. It is being prosecuted by Paul T. Maloney, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Honduran authorities to secure the defendants’ arrests and extraditions from Honduras.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Defendant Julie Winters, 46, of Portland, made a first appearance in federal court yesterday after being charged by criminal complaint with assaulting a federal officer and resisting arrest.

According to court documents, on August 20, 2025, Winters became hostile when deputies from the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) attempted to place Winters under arrest for violating the conditions of her pretrial release for an earlier charge of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer. Winters began to fight and resisted arrest. After several minutes, the deputies were able to handcuff and escort Winters to a holding cell. A short time later in the holding cell, Winters had a medical incident, and the Deputy U.S. Marshals provided immediate care. The Deputy U.S. Marshals removed the restraints as they waited for additional medical personnel to respond. As soon as the restraints were removed, Winters began fighting with the Deputy U.S. Marshals. Winters grabbed a Deputy U.S. Marshal by the hair at the base of the scalp and began to whip the Deputy U.S. Marshal around by the hair.

Winters was on pretrial release for a separate incident on June 24, 2025, for which she was indicted on two counts of attempted assault on an officer and intimidation of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

According to court documents, on June 24, 2025, officers observed Winters attempting to light an incendiary device next to the guard shack of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office. As Federal Protective Service officers engaged with Winters, she pulled a large knife from her backpack and began waiving the blade toward the officers. Winters threw the knife at an officer, but it did not strike the officer. Winters began to flee but an officer deployed a taser, bringing Winters to the ground. As officers attempted to secure Winters, she pulled a second large knife from her waistband. Officers finally disarmed Winters and arrested her.

The case is being investigated by the United States Marshal Service and the FBI and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man made his first appearance in federal court today after assaulting a federal officer during ongoing protest activity near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

Devin P. Montgomery, 49, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.

According to court documents, on the afternoon of September 4, 2025, Federal Protective Service (FPS) observed Montgomery operating an Unmanned Aircraft System, also commonly described as a “drone,” in a temporary flight restricted area near the ICE facility in Portland. The FPS advised Montgomery that flying a drone above or around the federal facility was prohibited due to the restriction imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Montgomery ignored FPS’s instructions and continued to operate the drone in the restricted area. Federal officers approached Montgomery, who became belligerent with the officers and began cursing at them. After his arrest, Montgomery spit in an officer’s face.

Since June 13, 2025, a total of 26 defendants have been charged with federal offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, arson, possession of a destructive device, and depredation of government property.

Montgomery made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.

Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to 8 years in federal prison. 

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.—Joseph David Emerson, 46, of Pleasant Hill, California, an off-duty commercial airline pilot, pleaded guilty today for attempting to shut down the engines of a passenger plane in flight.

According to court documents, on October 22, 2023, Emerson, an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot seated in a cockpit jump seat, attempted to shut down the engines of a commercial passenger plane traveling from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, California. After a brief physical struggle with Emerson, who quickly left the cockpit, the pilots diverted from their route and landed at Portland International Airport. Once on the ground, Port of Portland police officers placed Emerson under arrest.

On October 23, 2023, Emerson was charged by criminal complaint with interfering with flight crew members and attendants.

Emerson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.

As part of the plea agreement, Emerson has agreed to pay restitution in full to the victims.

Emerson will be sentenced on November 17, 2025, before a U.S. District Court Judge.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, and Port of Portland Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Parakram Singh is prosecuting the case.

PORTLAND, Ore.— A Hillsboro man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Thursday afternoon after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting a child and cyberstalking. 

According to court documents, Jorge Rosales, 29, met a young child who lived outside of the United States on “Musical.ly,” an online social media application that later became TikTok.  After interacting with the child online, Rosales convinced the child to send him sexually explicit images and videos.  Once he received those files, Rosales demanded more, threatening to send the sexually explicit images to the child’s family and friends.  Rosales stalked the child online for months on TikTok and Snapchat, harassing the child and the child's online friends using various social media accounts he created.

Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Rosales’s residence, seizing various electronic devices.  Searches of those devices revealed a cache of child pornography that included videos depicting the child Rosales had exploited online.  The searches also revealed some of the social media accounts Rosales used to exploit and stalk the child.

This case was investigated by HSI, with assistance from law enforcement officers in the child’s country of residence and the Hillsboro Police Department.  It was prosecuted by Gary Sussman, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

EUGENE, Ore.— Anthony D’Montrez Crawford (Crawford), 29, and Kaytlynn Ann Crawford a/k/a Alderman (Alderman), 27, of Eugene, Oregon, have been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with violations of sex trafficking of children by force, fraud, or coercion, transportation for prostitution, persuading or coercing to travel to engage in prostitution, use of an interstate facility to induce or coerce a minor to engage in prostitution, transportation of a minor for prostitution, and conspiracy.

According to the criminal complaint, Crawford forced individuals to engage in prostitution in the Eugene and Springfield area. Crawford advertised online for sexual services, coordinated prices and services with customers, rented hotel rooms for prostitution, and collected money from the victims through intimidation, threats of violence, and actual violence. Crawford also transported victims using rental cars to other cities, including Portland, to engage in these services. 

Alderman facilitated Crawford’s sex trafficking criminal venture. Alderman opened a car rental account and rented vehicles for Crawford, allowed hotel bills to be paid with her bank card, and allowed payments from customers to be received through a CashApp account in her name.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Seattle rescued a minor victim who was forced to engage in prostitution there as well as in Portland and the Eugene and Springfield area. An adult victim was also identified as being forced to engage in prostitution in Portland and the Eugene and Springfield area. 

Crawford and Alderman made their first appearances in federal court today. Crawford was ordered detained pending further court proceedings. Alderman was released pending further court proceedings.

The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Huynh is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.  

If you or someone you know are victims of human trafficking or have information about a potential human trafficking situation, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also submit a tip on the NHTRC website.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Luis Antonio Beltran Arredondo, 35, a Mexican National residing in Las Vegas, was sentenced today to 135 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin in Oregon, and for conspiring to launder drug proceeds through a Tualatin Beauty Salon. Arredondo is expected to be deported following his prison sentence.

According to court documents, in the fall of 2021, special agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Portland began investigating a drug trafficking organization suspected of transporting counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and heroin from California into Oregon and Washington for distribution. Between October 2021 and February 2022, agents interdicted couriers and seized drugs and proceeds from locations across three states. In sum, agents seized approximately 41 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 kilograms of heroin, 115,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, as well as more than $348,000 in cash.

A parallel financial investigation led by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) revealed that Arredondo and his fiancé, Jacqueline Paola Rodriguez Barrientos, laundered money generated by the drug trafficking organization through the Mazatlán Beauty Salon in Tualatin, Oregon and by buying real estate that they converted into income-generating rentals. The real estate purchases were made with cashier’s checks funded by large cash deposits. Bank records showed that Barrientos made frequent cash deposits ranging from $10,000 to more than $373,000 into accounts held in her name or the name of her salon. These deposits totaled more than $3.5 million during a 9-month period in 2021.

Since February 2021, members of the drug trafficking organization purchased a total of nine residential properties in Oregon, Washington, and Nevada, mortgage free, totaling more than $4.6 million in value. Arredondo directed the purchase of these properties with laundered funds. Barrientos then used third-party property management companies to rent these properties and earned approximately $10,000 per month in rental income.

On February 17, 2022, DEA agents arrested Arredondo and Barrientos at their Las Vegas residence. Agents found and seized two luxury vehicles, several loose receipts documenting high-end retail purchases, credit card statements documenting more than $16,000 spent on tickets to attend a professional boxing match, and other evidence memorializing the couple’s high-end lifestyle.

On June 2, 2025, Arredondo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and to conspiracy to launder drug proceeds.

Arredondo is the 12th and final member of the drug trafficking organization charged in this case to be sentenced. Barrientos was sentenced in October 2024, and is currently serving a sentence in federal prison for her role in laundering the organization’s drug proceeds.

The government has sought forfeiture on all nine residential properties used to launder the drug money. Five of the properties have been forfeited and sold. Four of the properties remain in forfeiture proceedings.

This case was investigated by DEA with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-CI, Tigard Police Department, and Oregon State Police. It is being prosecuted by Peter D. Sax, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Forfeiture proceedings are being handled by Katie De Villiers, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Today, Pamela J. Kahut, 68, of Wilsonville, Oregon, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for stealing money from the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) health benefit trust account. At the time of the offense, Kahut was PSMFC’s Chief Financial Officer. PSMFC is an interstate agency that conserves, develops, and manages Pacific Ocean fishery resources.

Kahut was also ordered to pay $211,083.27 in restitution to PSMFC and to pay a $10,000 fine.

According to court documents, Kahut, as Chief Financial Officer of PSMFC, had access to and controlled PSMFC’s health benefit trust account that was created to pay benefits, fees, and other charges for PSMFC employees covered under its self-funded health care benefit program. The health benefit trust account was funded, in part, through federal grant money issued to the PSMFC. 

Between about October 2014 and September 2020, Kahut stole $211,083.27 from the health benefit trust account. Kahut used the funds to pay for her spouse’s long-term care annual premiums, pay off her pension loans, and to pay her credit card bills.

On April 8, 2025, Kahut was charged by information with Theft in Connection with Health Care.

On June 5, 2025, Kahut pleaded guilty to Theft in Connection with Health Care.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Robert Trisotto, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland, Oregon, man has been sentenced to federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material and fleeing from law enforcement in a stolen government vehicle.

Travis Jay Grygla, 44, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $27,551.79 in restitution to the United States Government.

According to court documents, in April 2024, investigators with Homeland Security Investigations learned that Grygla was storing child pornography at his residence and sharing it with a registered sex offender. Grygla was also a registered sex offender on federal supervised release following a 2008 conviction for distribution of child pornography.

On April 24, 2024, federal agents executed a search warrant at Grygla’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices, which he was prohibited from possessing while on supervised release.  One of the devices contained over 200 media files of child sexual abuse material, including material with very young children.

While investigators were executing the search warrant, Grygla stole a government vehicle and fled the scene at a high speed. Law enforcement officers pursued Grygla and eventually apprehended Grygla in Castle Rock, Washington.

Grygla was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possessing or accessing with intent to view child pornography.  On June 2, 2025, he pleaded guilty to an information charging him with distribution of child pornography and theft of government property.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Portland Police Bureau, Vancouver Police Department, Washington State Patrol, and Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the pursuit.  The case is being prosecuted by Mira Chernick, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, they re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

PORTLAND, Ore.—Tracy Molina, 52, of Portland, Oregon, has been charged by information with failing to obey a lawful order.

According to court documents and information shared in court, on August 21, 2025, Molina entered the grounds of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland. Molina failed to comply with the lawful direction of federal officers and was arrested.

Molina made her first appearance in federal court on August 22 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was ordered released pending further court proceedings.

Failure to obey a lawful order is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 30 days in prison.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Protective Service and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

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

PORTLAND, Ore.— Antonio Irving Benjamin, age 53 and a resident of Salem, Oregon, was sentenced to 144 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and conspiracy to launder the proceeds.  He also agreed to forfeit assets worth more than $2 million dollars.

According to court documents, Benjamin and a previously convicted co-conspirator named Jered Hayward operated a large-scale illegal THC and psilocybin production and distribution facility headquartered in Salem, Oregon.  Benjamin supervised the operations and managed a number of employees who obtained cereal and candy products and infused or sprayed potent THC oils on them.  They then inserted the edibles into packages which mimicked legitimate consumer food products and sold them throughout the United States and internationally. While there was no evidence Benjamin deliberately targeted minors, the manner in which his organization packaged the edibles posed a risk to children, who are often unable to comprehend the fine print warnings that the packages contained THC products.

Benjamin’s organization utilized encrypted communications such as Telegram to market, sell and process orders, and straw businesses to mask money laundering transactions.  Benjamin had no permits or licenses to produce or sell these products; the entire operation was illegal.

Benjamin has an extensive criminal record, including two prior federal convictions for cocaine and fentanyl trafficking.  Because of these convictions, he is a career criminal under federal law.

Benjamin agreed to forfeit substantial assets which he admitted were related to the drug and money laundering enterprise.  As part of his guilty plea Benjamin and Hayward agreed to forfeit:

• The Salem production facility;
• More than $1 million in cash;
• $640,000 worth of cryptocurrency and bank account funds;
• More than $400,000 worth of gold and silver;
• Jewelry and a Rolex watch; and
• Twelve vehicles, two UTV’s, boats and
• A property located at 879 Railway Avenue NE, Silverton, Oregon.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Portland Police Bureau, United States Postal Inspection, Oregon State Police, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Salem Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Kemp Strickland and Christopher Cardani, Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Three Honduran defendants unlawfully residing in Oregon made their first appearances in federal court on Monday after being arrested and charged for trafficking fentanyl in downtown Portland last Thursday on National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day.

Antoni Yahir Pavon-Rosales, 18, has been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Cristian Ravolales, 27, has been charged by criminal complaint with distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Kevin Concepcion Ramos-Espinoza, 34, has been charged by criminal complaint with distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents, on August 21, 2025, investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Central Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) and Bike Squad, PPB Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit (NOC), the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF), and the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) conducted a fentanyl enforcement mission in downtown Portland.  Investigators observed defendant Pavon-Rosales attempting to sell fentanyl and arrested him, seizing 22.5 grams of fentanyl and $795.  The same evening, investigators observed defendant Ravolales engage in drug trafficking and arrested him, seizing 45.9 grams of fentanyl and $579.  Investigators also observed Ramos-Espinoza engaged in multiple acts of drug trafficking and arrested him, seizing 14.7 grams of fentanyl and $2,461. Defendant Ramos-Espinoza has two pending delivery of controlled substance cases in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

All three defendants made their first appearances in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.  All three defendants were ordered detained pending further court proceedings.  Arraignments have been scheduled for September 24, 2025.

These cases were investigated by the FBI, PPB Central NRT and Bike Squad, PPB NOC, and the CCITF.  They are being prosecuted by AUSA Scott Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

CCITF is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program (HIDTA) and is composed of members from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Canby Police Department, Oregon State Police, Clackamas County Parole and Probation, and the FBI.

The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 100 times more powerful than morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is potentially enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Warm Springs, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today for assaulting his girlfriend with a pistol on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

Henry Jonathan Andrews, 29, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.

According to court documents, in October 2024, Andrews was driving with the victim on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Andrews became angry and pulled out a pistol. He struck the victim multiple times in the head with the pistol. Fearing for her life, the victim jumped from the moving car to escape him. She suffered extensive and life-threatening injuries as a result of the assault.

On November 20, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Andrews with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Andrews faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on November 13, 2025, before a U.S. District Judge.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Warm Springs Tribal Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Pamela Paaso and Charlotte Kelley, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

Domestic violence is a serious crime that can include both physical and emotional abuse, and it is frequently hidden from public view. Many survivors suffer in silence, afraid to seek help or not knowing where to turn. The traumatic effects of domestic violence also extend beyond the abused person, impacting family members, friends, and communities.

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 911.

If you need assistance or know someone who needs help, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Many communities throughout the country have also created support networks to assist survivors in the process of recovery.

The StrongHearts Native Helpline offers culturally specific support and advocacy for American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence. Please call 1-844-762-8483 or visit www.strongheartshelpline.org for more information.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal jury in Portland found Peter Igwacho, 64, a Cameroonian national residing in Anchorage, Alaska, guilty Thursday for wire fraud.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between April 2020 and October 2021, during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Igwacho filed at least five fraudulent applications for pandemic stimulus funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The information on those forms, in support of his request for stimulus funds, was fraudulent. The applications submitted by Igwacho were filed on behalf of a sole proprietorship that did not, in fact, have actual business operations, payrolled employees, or the reported gross revenues. 

Further, upon receipt of the stimulus funds, Igwacho did not spend those funds on approved pandemic-related expenses but instead spent the money on personal expenses. The PPP and EIDL programs were designed to help small businesses facing financial difficulties during the Covid-19 pandemic.

On July 23, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count superseding indictment charging Igwacho with wire fraud.

Igwacho faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on November 18, 2025, before a U.S. District Judge.

This case was investigated by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. It was prosecuted by Robert Trisotto and Meredith Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

EUGENE, Ore.— Jesus Paul Zazueta, 28, of Yakima, Washington, was sentenced today to 90 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release for trafficking fentanyl.

According to court documents, on October 4, 2021, Zazueta was a passenger in a vehicle involved in an accident in Deschutes County, Oregon. Officers from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police responded to the accident and received consent to search the vehicle. The officers located two bags in the trunk containing approximately five pounds of fentanyl pills and a semi-automatic firearm.

When questioned by officers, Zazueta admitted to trafficking the fentanyl and owning the firearm. Zazueta also admitted to packing the bag containing fentanyl and the firearm and expected to be paid for trafficking the fentanyl to Washington.

On July 20, 2023, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment charging Zazueta with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On May 21, 2025, Zazueta pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oregon State Police, and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Adam Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.

EUGENE, Ore.—A North Bend, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for sexually exploiting an Oregon child using the social media application Facebook Messenger.

Chistopher Jay Young, 40, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and 15 years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, on January 20, 2024, Young, using Facebook Messenger, persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct, record the conduct, and send it to him.

On April 11, 2024, federal and state law enforcement officers from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oregon State Police, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office executed federal search warrants on Young’s home and vehicles. Young was arrested and investigators seized his devices.

During a search of Young’s devices, investigators learned that Young used the minor’s social media account to communicate and request the child sexual abuse material and that Young had the minor’s Facebook login credentials saved in his phone.

On April 16, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment charging Young with attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct and attempting to coerce or entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct. 

On May 6, 2025, Young pleaded guilty to attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from HSI. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, they re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

MEDFORD, Ore.—Two San Antonio, Texas, men were sentenced to federal prison Thursday for conspiring to travel from Texas to Southern Oregon to commit an armed robbery while disguised as agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Jose Manuel Lopez, 24, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release, and Juan Carlos Conchas, 23, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release. Restitution to the victim was ordered to be paid jointly.

According to court documents, on March 12, 2022, deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a rural address in Josephine County, Oregon after receiving reports of an armed robbery in progress. The deputies found a residence with a closed driveway gate and two empty vehicles with Texas license plates in the driveway with their doors open. Deputies saw several people running toward the back of the property and found victims inside the house. The victims reported that armed individuals dressed in what appeared to be DEA attire and wearing body armor arrived at the property and used zip ties and duct tape to restrain several of them.

The deputies searched the property and found large plastic totes containing packaged marijuana in the buildings and vehicles. They also found body armor, firearms, ammunition, shell casings, and badges that resembled those carried by DEA agents along the path that the defendants used to flee the property.

Investigators learned that in late February 2022, the group traveled from San Antonio to Southern Oregon to steal over 200 pounds of marijuana and recovered photographs taken by the group in which they posed with firearms while dressed as DEA agents.

On October 13, 2022, Lopez and Conchas were located and arrested in San Antonio.

On September 1, 2022, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment charging Morales, Acuna, Conchas and co-conspirators with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On December 6, 2024, Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute.

On April 16, 2025, Conchas pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute.

In addition, four co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and been sentenced on felony charges stemming from their roles in the conspiracy.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. It is being prosecuted by Judith R. Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

EUGENE, Ore.—Dusty Jacaway, 29, of Springfield, Oregon, was sentenced to 250 months in federal prison today for producing child pornography.

According to court documents, in October 2024, Lane County Sheriff’s Office deputies located Jacaway in a vehicle with a 13-year-old child (MV1). Officers secured the cell phones of Jacaway and MV1. Subsequent analysis of the cell phones revealed two videos Jacaway had curated, displaying him sexually assaulting MV1 in the back seat of his car.

A forensic interview with MV1 revealed the extent of Jacaway’s abuse. Jacaway met MV1 online when the child was 12 years old and began sexually abusing MV1 soon after. Jacaway also provided MV1 with methamphetamine. He would regularly traffic MV1 to a local pornography shop where he accepted money and drugs from men in exchange for allowing them to sexually abuse MV1. Jacaway kept the money and threatened to kill MV1 if he were ever arrested.

Following the completion of his prison sentence, Jacaway will begin a life term of supervised release. He must also pay $3,000 in restitution to the victim.

The case was investigated by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Adam Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

PORTLAND, Ore.— A previously-convicted sex offender was sentenced to federal prison today after pleading guilty to one count of receiving child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Michael Simon sentenced John Christopher Christensen, 49, to 210 months in prison, followed by a 15-year term of supervised release.

According to court documents, in December 2022, investigators with the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) gained access to an online chatroom dedicated to trading in images of child sexual abuse. Christensen was one of many participants in the chatroom. Investigators eventually determined Christensen’s true name, and discovered that he was a registered sex offender living in Salem, Oregon who had previously been convicted of a sex offense against a minor. They also learned he had been arrested by Salem police on January 1, 2023, and charged with new offenses involving minors. In mid-January 2023, investigators served a federal search warrant at Christensen’s residence and recovered several devices that contained child pornography, including some of the same child pornography that had been posted in the chatroom.

Christensen appeared in federal court in August 2024 after serving a state sentence for luring a minor. He pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography in federal court in May 2025.

The federal case was investigated by HSI, with assistance from the Salem Police Department. It was prosecuted by Gary Sussman, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

EUGENE, Ore.— An Albany, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for sexually abusing a toddler on at least five separate occasions and sharing videos of the abuse online.

Kevin Walter Taylor, 35, was sentenced to 504 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release.

“The sexual abuse of this young child is reprehensible and is deserving of every month of the sentence that has been imposed by the court,” Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office recognizes and thanks the Albany police officers and HSI special agents for rescuing this child within hours of learning of the abuse.”

“HSI is unwavering in our commitment to protecting children and ensuring that those who exploit them are brought to justice,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson. “I am proud of the dedication and expertise demonstrated by our agents, analysts, and law enforcement partners in rescuing the victim from horrific sexual exploitation.”

According to court documents, on the morning of September 8, 2023, special agents from HSI discovered material online depicting child sexual abuse and determined that Taylor was likely committing the abuse from his home in Albany.

Within hours, HSI agents obtained and executed a federal search warrant on Taylor’s residence with the assistance of officers from the Albany Police Department. The same night, HSI and Albany Police arrested Taylor and rescued the toddler victim, who was still wearing the clothes depicted in the abuse material produced and distributed by Taylor just hours earlier.

Upon review of Taylor’s cell phone, agents discovered evidence of the abuse that occurred the day of his arrest as well as videos taken almost every day during the preceding week. Agents also discovered chats in which Taylor openly discussed his abuse of the toddler victim and shared the videos he made.

Agents discovered additional chats in which Taylor discussed his plans to kidnap and rape other children as well as his interest in filming children in stores in the community. Consistent with those chats, agents discovered videos taken in what appeared to be grocery stores, focused and zoomed in on children’s mid-sections. Agents also discovered videos in which Taylor recorded himself tossing fluids onto unaware women in public. The children and women filmed without their knowledge could not be identified.

On October 19, 2023, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a ten-count indictment charging Taylor with sexually exploiting a child, distributing child pornography, and possessing child pornography. On December 10, 2024, Taylor pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child, distributing child pornography, and possessing child pornography.

This case was investigated by HSI Portland in conjunction with HSI Charlotte, the Boone Police Department in North Carolina, and the Albany Police Department. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, in coordination with the Linn County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Tigard, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for traveling from Oregon to Washington in hopes of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a nine-year-old child.

Andrew Sterling Hilliker, 47, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, on January 28, 2024, Hilliker used Kik Messenger, an online messaging application, to contact an undercover law enforcement officer posing as the parent of a nine-year-old child as part of a broader investigation into online child exploitation. Hilliker engaged in sexually explicit communications with the undercover officer and expressed his interest in sexually abusing the child. Soon after, Hilliker planned to meet the undercover officer and purported child at a hotel in Vancouver, Washington.  

On January 31, 2024, Hilliker traveled from Oregon to Washington to meet the purported parent and engage in illicit sexual conduct with the child. Hilliker was arrested when he arrived at the hotel and had condoms in his pocket. When questioned by investigators, Hilliker admitted that he believed he was communicating with the parent of a nine-year-old child and engaged in sexually explicit communications about the child.

On February 22, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Hilliker with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

On January 14, 2025, Hilliker pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

This case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Eliza Carmen Rodriguez, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

The FBI Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF) conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

PORTLAND, Ore.—Ciara D. Mercado, 32, of Tacoma, Washington, has been charged by information with failing to obey a lawful order.

According to court documents and information shared in court, on August 4, 2025, Mercado entered the grounds of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland. Mercado failed to comply with the lawful direction of federal officers and was arrested.

Mercado made her first appearance in federal court Tuesday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was ordered released pending further court proceedings.

Failure to obey a lawful order is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 30 days in prison.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Protective Service and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

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

PORTLAND, Ore.—Manuel Antonio Souza Espinoza, 27, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Portland, was sentenced today to 157 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a Portland teen and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, the investigation that ultimately led to Espinoza’s arrest began after the tragic overdose death of a Portland teenager who, on March 7, 2022, ingested a counterfeit “M30” Oxycodone pill manufactured with fentanyl. The investigation revealed that Espinoza—a known, high-volume Portland area drug dealer—was the third-level supplier of the counterfeit pills. On March 31, 2022, using a confidential informant, investigators arranged a controlled purchase of 1,000 pills from Espinoza. When Espinoza arrived at the agreed upon location, he was immediately arrested on federal charges. Investigators located and seized 1,000 pills in Espinoza’s vehicle along with a loaded .40 caliber handgun with extended magazine.

On April 21, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Souza Espinoza with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On March 5, 2025, Souza Espinoza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In the plea agreement, Souza Espinoza admitted that the counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl he sold to the victim resulted in the fatal fentanyl poisoning of the victim.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Portland Police Bureau’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Interdiction Team (HIT), and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office with assistance from the Clackamas County Inter-Agency Task Force. It was prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.