PORTLAND, Ore. – Two men have been sentenced to federal prison in separate cases for trafficking illegal narcotics into Oregon, with one of the defendants leading a large-scale drug operation from California.
Marcial Aguirre, 55, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Aguirre pleaded guilty on March 19, 2018.
Aguirre was the leader of a drug trafficking organization responsible for shipping large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from California to Oregon and Washington state. He employed three drug runners, or ‘mules,’ who would transport the drugs in hidden vehicle compartments.
According to court documents, Aguirre would direct the runners where to pick up the loaded vehicles and where to deliver them. He would often meet the runners at local convenience stores in Salem, exchange vehicles, and transfer the loads to co-conspirators for delivery.
On September 24, 2016, agents stopped the van Aguirre was traveling in and seized approximately $74,000 in cash. Over the course of a year-long investigation, investigators seized approximately $229,000 in cash, two vehicles, three firearms, more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine, and 10 pounds of cocaine.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and prosecuted by Kemp L. Strickland, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Aguirre’s sentencing brings an end to a large-scale drug trafficking operation that stretched from California to Oregon and Washington state.
Mandatory Facts:
Defendant: Marcial Aguirre
Criminal Charges: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
City and State: Portland, Oregon
Date: March 19, 2018 (guilty plea), September 24, 2016 (arrest)
Sentence: 135 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release
Dollar Amounts: $74,000 in cash seized, $229,000 in cash seized over the course of the investigation
Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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