Albany Dealer Bassetti Gets 5 Years for Heroin & Meth

PORTLAND, Ore. – Another cog in the poison machine is off the streets. Anthoni Joseph Bassetti, 28, of Albany, Oregon, received a 60-month federal prison sentence today for peddling heroin and methamphetamine throughout Linn County. The sentence was handed down after a lengthy investigation and a guilty plea, finally bringing some measure of justice for a community ravaged by addiction.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began tracking Bassetti in January 2020, identifying him as a mid-level dealer fueling the opioid and meth crises in the region. Undercover agents quickly established contact, completing two separate drug buys before securing a federal search warrant for Bassetti’s Albany residence on March 6, 2020. What they found wasn’t just product; it was a fully-stocked operation.

Agents seized user quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine from the home, along with a disturbing cache of seven firearms. This wasn’t a simple street corner hustle; Bassetti was armed and prepared, a clear indication of the dangerous world he operated within. He was initially charged on March 3, 2020, with distribution of methamphetamine and heroin, later adding another charge for distribution of methamphetamine on August 27, 2020. He ultimately waived indictment and pleaded guilty on August 9, 2021.

Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon announced the sentencing, a small victory in a seemingly endless war. “This case demonstrates our commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and holding accountable those who profit from the misery of others,” Asphaug stated. But words ring hollow when the streets remain flooded with deadly substances.

The investigation was a multi-agency effort, with ATF leading the charge and receiving crucial support from the Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (LINE) – a coalition of law enforcement from Albany, Lebanon, and Sweet Home police departments, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, and even the Oregon Army National Guard Counter Drug Task Force. The Corvallis Police Department and Benton County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit also pitched in. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren handled the prosecution.

Heroin continues to claim lives across the nation, and methamphetamine addiction is tearing families apart. If you or someone you know is battling substance abuse, there is help available. Call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Support is available 24/7. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 8am and 11pm Pacific Time daily. Don’t suffer in silence.