Pendleton Gunman Gets 6+ Years for Shooting & Meth Deal

PORTLAND, Ore. – A Pendleton man is headed to federal prison after being convicted of both shooting a family member and participating in a violent drug deal gone wrong. Royce Francis Speedis, 34, received a 77-month sentence today, followed by three years of supervised release, for his crimes.

The trouble began in early March 2019, when Speedis and co-defendant Lavella Ruth Thompson, 28, also of Pendleton, attempted to purchase methamphetamine on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Court records show they met with three individuals intending to sell the drugs. Thompson allegedly tried to lure the sellers to a secondary location, but when they refused, a firefight erupted. Three men exited the SUV with firearms and opened fire on the sellers’ car, striking one passenger in the back of the head with a non-life-threatening injury. While initial accounts of Speedis’ direct involvement were murky, a ballistics analysis connected a Ruger rifle found at his family’s residence to casings at the scene.

Less than a month later, on April 17, 2019, Speedis escalated his violence. An argument with his cousin on the reservation turned deadly when Speedis allegedly pulled a black semi-automatic pistol and fired a single shot, ripping through the cousin’s right leg and into his left. This incident directly led to a federal indictment on August 19, 2020, charging Speedis with assault with a deadly weapon and using a firearm in connection with a crime of violence. The earlier meth deal was also folded into the charges, with Speedis and Thompson both indicted for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and interference with commerce through robbery.

Speedis ultimately pleaded guilty on August 23, 2021, to assault with a deadly weapon and the methamphetamine conspiracy. Thompson also entered a guilty plea on September 7, 2021, to the conspiracy charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10, 2021. The investigation, a joint effort by the Umatilla Tribal Police Department and the FBI, paints a picture of a dangerous individual operating with reckless disregard for human life.

Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon announced the sentencing, highlighting the commitment of federal authorities to tackling violent crime and drug trafficking in the region. “This case demonstrates the serious consequences faced by those who resort to violence and engage in illegal drug activity,” Asphaug stated. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

The 77-month sentence handed down to Speedis sends a clear message: firearms and drug dealing will not be tolerated. While Thompson awaits her sentencing, this case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking within communities and the dedication of law enforcement to bringing perpetrators to justice.