Joseph Richard Caruso, Fentanyl Trafficking, Oregon 2017
PORTLAND, Ore.—A prolific darknet narcotics vendor residing in Lake Oswego, Oregon, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release for illegally distributing fentanyl that was linked to a 2017 fatal overdose in Wisconsin.
Joseph Richard Caruso, 34, was found guilty of distributing a controlled substance resulting in death. He was ordered to forfeit more than $764,000 and a 2013 Audi A4 sedan.
The case began on November 19, 2017, when a U.S. Postal Inspection Service inspector discovered a suspicious package addressed to Caruso at the U.S. Postal Service Portland Air Cargo Center. The package was transported to the Portland Police Bureau’s Drugs and Vice Division for further examination in a safe environment.
About two days after the discovery, on November 21, 2017, investigators conducted a controlled delivery of a package with an inert powder to Caruso's residence in Lake Oswego. Shortly thereafter, Caruso was observed retrieving the package from his apartment postal box. HSI agents and other task force officers confronted Caruso and placed him under arrest.
The Oregon HIDTA program was established by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in June of 1999. In 2015 the program expanded into Idaho and was renamed the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA.
Drug abuse affects communities across the nation, and opioid abuse continues to be particularly devastating. The CDC reports that from 1999 to 2016, more than 630,000 people have died from a drug overdoses. In 2016, 66% of drug overdose deaths involved an opioid.
If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit www.samhsa.gov for more information.
Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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