McMinnville Fentanyl Dealer Gets 10 Years

PORTLAND, Ore. – Travis Charles Donnahoo, 46, of McMinnville, Oregon, is headed to federal prison for a decade after pleading guilty to trafficking fentanyl in the Beaver State. The sentence, handed down today, is a harsh blow to a repeat offender with a lengthy rap sheet and a clear disregard for the law.

On March 12, 2023, McMinnville Police Department officers finally caught up with Donnahoo while serving four outstanding warrants for his arrest. The arrest wasn’t clean; Donnahoo was found to be carrying a firearm and a stash of cash, along with a suspicious black zippered case. A subsequent search of that case revealed a deadly cocktail: 145 grams of methamphetamine and a staggering 322 grams of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl.

Donnahoo was swiftly charged on March 22, 2023, with possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He ultimately pleaded guilty on April 8, 2025, to the charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, likely hoping for a lighter sentence. The judge wasn’t buying it. He received 121 months – ten years and one month – in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release.

This wasn’t Donnahoo’s first rodeo. Court records reveal a long history of drug trafficking, with five prior state convictions for distributing drugs in Oregon. He’s a career criminal who’s consistently put profit over people, flooding the streets with dangerous narcotics. The sentence sends a message: those who profit from poisoning communities will face serious consequences.

The investigation was a collaborative effort, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the FBI, with crucial support from the McMinnville Police Department and the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott M. Kerin prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and lengthy sentence. The case underscores the ongoing fentanyl crisis gripping Oregon, with overdose deaths skyrocketing due to the potency and availability of this deadly synthetic opioid.

Fentanyl is a killer. Just a 2-milligram dose – a few grains – is enough to fatally overdose an average adult male. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is 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 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.