15 ARRESTED IN MAJOR DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION INVESTIGATION

March 13, 2012
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Operation Icebreaker 2 was a joint investigation by the Department of Justice and law enforcement agencies in the Willamette Valley

Attorney General John Kroger today announced the arrest of 15 people for their alleged participation in a major drug trafficking organization that dealt methamphetamine and heroin throughout the Mid-Willamette Valley including Benton, Linn and Marion Counties.

“Supply and demand drives drug trafficking organizations to profit from a wide range of communities. Individuals who choose to profit from drug trafficking will be held accountable,” said Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson.

“In 2007, a very similar drug trafficking organization was dismantled in the Willamette Valley. This investigation has revealed once again there are individuals who are willing to make personal decisions to engage in the illegal trafficking of dangerous narcotics,” said Captain Jon Sassaman of the Corvallis Police Department.

Today’s arrest sweep, dubbed “Operation Icebreaker 2,” arose from a multi-agency investigation involving the Oregon Department of Justice, Corvallis Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Benton County District Attorney’s Office, Albany Police Department and Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

In addition, the following agencies assisted in the service of search warrants: the Oregon State Police, Salem Police Department, Keizer Police Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Oregon Department of Corrections, Beaverton Police Department, Newport Police Department, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Lebanon Police Department, Philomath Police Department, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Polk Interagency Narcotics Team, Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon Department of Justice.

Approximately 180 officers and deputies from throughout the Willamette Valley and Oregon assisted with the service of the warrants.

Search warrants were served at fifteen locations in Marion, Linn and Benton counties. The total amount of seized drugs from the search warrants is yet to be determined as the investigation continues. As of the writing of this press release, law enforcement officials have sized 3.7 lbs of methamphetamine, 7 lbs of heroin, 2.5 lbs of cocaine, firearms and approximately $95,000 in cash.

The search warrants are the culmination of a nine month investigation into a highly organized, sophisticated and structured illegal drug trafficking and racketeering distribution enterprise. Defendants in this case, operating out of their homes and through a network of associates, have been distributing Methamphetamine and Heroin throughout the mid-Willamette Valley.

The on-going investigation demonstrated, in a given week, the drug trafficking organization distributed as much as 4 pounds of methamphetamine and 2 pounds of heroin on a consistent basis throughout the mid-Willamette Valley.

According to Captain Jon Sassaman of the Corvallis Police Department, “This investigation and others like it should be a message to those who engage in the sale of dangerous drugs – that they will be investigated, arrested and held responsible.”

The following individuals have been taken into custody on a variety of charges:

  1. Rogelio Gonzalez-Martinez, DOB: 5/14/75

    Lodged: Josephine County Jail

    Charges:

    Racketeering (ORS 166.720)

    Bail: 10 Million Dollars

  2. Abel Gonzalez-Martinez, DOB: 11/15/80

    Lodged: Benton County Jail

    Charges:

    Racketeering (ORS 166.720)

    Conspiracy to commit unlawful delivery of Methamphetamine (ORS 475.890)

    Conspiracy to commit unlawful delivery of heroin (ORS 161.450/475.850)

    Conspiracy to commit unlawful delivery of methamphetamine

    Unlawful delivery of Methamphetamine (ORS 475.890)

    Unlawful delivery of heroin (ORS 475.850)

    Bail: 10 Million dollars

  3. Juventino Santibanez-Castro, DOB: 03/14/87

    Lodged: Benton County Jail

    Charges: Racketeering (ORS 166.720)

    Unlawful delivery of Methamphetamine (ORS 475.890)

    Conspiracy to commit unlawful deliver of methamphetamine (ORS 475.890)

    Conspiracy to commit unlawful delivery of methamphetamine (475.850)

    Conspiracy to commit unlawful delivery of cocaine (ORS 161.450/475.880)

    Conspiracy to commit unlawful delivery of heroin (ORS 475.850)

    Bail: 10 Million Dollars

  4. Juana Bautista-Zuniga, DOB: 03/18/77

    Lodged: Benton County Jail

    Charges:

    Unlawful delivery of Methamphetamine (ORS 475.890)

    Bail: 100,000 Dollars

  5. Joachim Felgentraeger, DOB: 08/16/48

    Lodged: Benton County Jail

    Charges: Racketeering (ORS 166.720)

    Unlawful delivery of methamphetamine (ORS 475.890)

    Bail: 1 Million Dollars

  6. Jessica Marie Mendez, DOB: 12/27/79,br /> Lodged: Benton County Jail

    Charges: Racketeering (ORS 166.720)

    Bail: 1 Million Dollars

  7. Adrian Cornejo-Corona, DOB: 09/16/86

    Lodged:  Benton County Jail

    Charges: Racketeering (ORS 166.720)

    Bail:  1 Million Dollars

  8. James Kenji Knox, DOB: 08/05/59

    Lodged: Benton County Jail

    Charges: Racketeering (ORS 166.720)

    Bail: 1 Million Dollars

  9. Richardo Viramontes, DOB: 05/26/75

    Lodged: Benton County Jail

    Charges: Racketeering (ORS 166.720)

    Bail: 1 Million Dollars

  10. Jose Diego Florez-Juarez, 09/21/91

    Lodged: Benton County Jail

    Charges: Racketeering (ORS 166.720)

    Bail: 1 Million Dollars

  11. Jaime Rincon-Herrera, DOB 07/17/84

    Lodged: Benton County Jail

    Charges: Racketeering (ORS 166.720)

    Bail: 1 Million Dollars

  12. Lorena Gonzalas Pulido, DOB: 4/27/78

    Lodged: Linn County Jail

    Charges:

    Unlawful Delivery of a controlled substance Cocaine (B-Felony)

    Unlawful Delivery of a controlled substance Heroin (A-Felony)

    Bail:

  13. Rafael Ayala Lucio, DOB 12/09/76

    Lodged: Benton County Jail

    Charges:

    Money Laundering (ORS 161.170)

    Racketeering (ORS 166.720)

    Bail: $70,000 Dollars

  14. Gilberto Garcia Camacho, DOB: 08/17/86

    Lodged: Linn County Jail

    Charges: Racketeering (ORS 166.720)

    Bail:

  15. Camilo Garcia Sanchez, DOB: 07/14/86

    Lodged: Linn County Jail

    Charges:

    Unlawful delivery of Heroin

    Unlawful delivery of Cocaine

    Bail:

For additional information regarding charges, please contact the Benton County or the Linn County Jails.

Definitions:

  • Racketeering: ORS 166.715

    Using an “enterprise” (which can be either a business or an “association in fact” of individuals) which conducts a pattern of criminal activity for the same objective: i.e. selling drugs to make money.
  • Conspiracy: ORS 161.450

    An agreement by two or more people to do something unlawful/criminal.
  • Money Laundering: ORS 164.170

    Using the proceeds of criminal activity to further the criminal enterprise or to to avoid federal reporting requirements related to a transfer of proceeds of criminal activity.
  • Narcotics weights to street value: (estimate only)

    * 1 lb equals 16 oz.

    * 1 oz. equals 28 grams
  • Methamphetamine: $75 – $100 per gram street value
  • Heroin: $200 per gram street value

A criminal defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

In 2009, the Department of Justice received a $1,531,744 federal grant to create a multi-agency Drug Crimes Strike Force. The new unit works with the Oregon High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area board, the Oregon Sheriffs’ Association, the Oregon Police Chiefs’ Association and the Oregon District Attorneys’ Association.

Attorney General John Kroger leads the Oregon Department of Justice. The Department’s mission is to fight crime and fraud, protect the environment, improve child welfare, promote a positive business climate, and defend the rights of all Oregonians.

Contact:

Tony Green, (503) 378-6002 tony.green@doj.state.or.us |

Capt. Jon Sassaman, Corvallis Police Department, 541-766-6440 Jon.sassaman@ci.corvallis.or.us |