Portland, Oregon – Israel Sarabia, a 30-year-old from Culver, Oregon, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for his role in trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine into Central Oregon, particularly targeting the cities of Madras and Redmond.
A Widespread Operation Uncovered
The sentencing marks a significant milestone in a joint investigation carried out by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team (CODE). Investigators initially became aware of a Central Oregon drug trafficking organization that employed couriers to transport large quantities of drugs from either Southern California or Mexico directly into Oregon. This operation was first exposed on December 10, 2022, when law enforcement officials stopped a courier in Klamath Falls, Oregon. A search of the courier’s vehicle revealed three packages containing approximately 30,000 counterfeit Oxycodone pills, which were later confirmed to contain fentanyl.
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Further investigation indicated that the courier was en route to Sarabia’s residence, having been instructed by Sarabia to bring fentanyl from Southern California or Mexico. On March 15, 2023, the scope of the operation became clearer when Sarabia was arrested near his home. That same day, a significant cache of drugs and weapons was uncovered at the residence of a co-conspirator. The seizure included 519 grams of methamphetamine, over 1,000 fentanyl pills, 41 grams of cocaine, and nine firearms. The co-conspirator had been storing these illicit items on behalf of Sarabia, illustrating the organized and extensive nature of their operation.
Legal Proceedings and Guilty Plea
On March 15, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted Sarabia and an accomplice on six counts, including charges of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, and for the possession and distribution of these substances. An additional individual was charged with conspiracy related to these activities.
Sarabia entered a guilty plea on August 21, 2023, admitting to the conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.