Portland, Oregon – Victor Diaz-Ramirez, the leader of an international drug trafficking organization, has been sentenced to federal prison, marking a pivotal moment in Oregon’s ongoing battle against drug-related crimes. Operating from Mexico, Diaz-Ramirez’s network was responsible for smuggling substantial quantities of narcotics into Oregon, affecting many communities across the state.
Substantial Sentence for Significant Crimes
Victor Diaz-Ramirez, 33, received a sentence of 135 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for his leadership role in this notorious drug trafficking operation. His organization, active between 2018 and 2020, played a central part in the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine throughout Lane County, Oregon.
“While communities across our state continue to struggle with the ongoing drug crisis, there are criminal enterprises, like the Diaz-Ramirez drug trafficking organization, whose sole purpose is to profit from addiction and suffering. This far-reaching investigation demonstrates the deep commitment of all involved law enforcement agencies to combatting drug trafficking and keeping our communities safe,” Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eugene and Medford Branch Offices, commented on the severity of the crimes and the dedication of law enforcement to address such challenges.
David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Field Division, also weighed in, stating, “Drug traffickers like Mr. Diaz-Ramirez prey on our communities by peddling large amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, often to our most vulnerable. I am gratified that the hard work of DEA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our many partners from law enforcement agencies across Oregon led to the lengthy sentence Mr. Diaz-Ramirez received in this case. Justice was truly served.”
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The Scope of the Operation and Its Impact
From at least March 2018 through August 2020, Diaz-Ramirez and his associates orchestrated the import of drugs from Mexico, utilizing a network to move the substances from Southern California to Oregon. They delivered these illegal products to local distributors in exchange for substantial amounts of cash.
This extensive operation led to significant seizures by law enforcement, which included more than 178 pounds of methamphetamine, 12 pounds of heroin, six pounds of fentanyl, and 18 rifles, among other items. The investigation also resulted in the forfeiture of approximately $1.2 million from the organization, signaling a major financial blow to the drug trafficking network. This amount included more than $400,000 in seized cash.
Widespread Arrests and Convictions
The crackdown extended beyond Diaz-Ramirez. A total of 35 individuals connected to the operation—including sources from Mexico, couriers, and local distributors in Lane County—were charged and convicted for their involvement in the network. This group was responsible for facilitating the sale of drugs in and around Eugene, significantly impacting the local community.
On August 5, 2020, a federal grand jury in Eugene indicted Diaz-Ramirez for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He later pleaded guilty to a one-count superseding criminal information charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on November 1, 2023.
Collaborative Efforts in Law Enforcement
The successful resolution of this case was the result of a collaborative effort among multiple agencies, including the DEA, FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Springfield Police Department, Eugene Police Department, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (LINE), and Douglas Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (DINT). Joseph Huynh and Judi Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, were in charge of the prosecution.