PORTLAND, Ore. - Ivan Zarate-Alvarado, 27, originally from Michoacán, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon to 87 months in prison following his federal conviction for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. When the defendant is released from prison, he will serve three years of supervised release.
On June 27, 2013, investigators from the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force utilized a confidential informant (CI) to conduct a controlled buy of approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine from the defendant, who the CI knew was a methamphetamine dealer. When the defendant showed up to do the deal, he was arrested. Inside the defendant’s vehicle officers located approximately 1,917 grams of pure methamphetamine.
“Methamphetamine has been identified as the region’s most serious drug threat," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Billy Williams. “Our office will continue to work with law enforcement to prosecute those significant dealers who profit by selling these poisons within our community."
According to the Oregon High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program:
Methamphetamine in the form of crystal methamphetamine, or “ice," continues to be readily available and widely used throughout the Oregon HIDTA and represents the region’s most serious drug threat. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant that is abused for its euphoric and stimulant effects. Chronic methamphetamine abusers exhibit violent behavior, confusion, insomnia and psychotic characteristics such as hallucinations and paranoia. Methamphetamine-related crime, such as identity theft, abused and neglected children, and other serious person and property crimes, continues to occur at a palpable rate and is prevalent throughout the HIDTA region.
Oregon and Idaho law enforcement officers surveyed in 2015 indicated methamphetamine remains a significant threat due to its level of use and availability; nexus to other crimes such as violent activity and property crime; societal impact; and connection to drug trafficking organizations, primarily MNDTOs [multi-national drug trafficking organizations]. Of law enforcement agencies surveyed, 62 percent reported methamphetamine as the greatest Oregon HIDTA Program drug threat to their area, with the majority indicating methamphetamine as the drug that contributes most to violent crime (88%) and property crime (69%). Furthermore, over 60 percent of officers ranked methamphetamine as the drug that serves as the primary funding source for major criminal activity.
Threat Assessment and Counter-Drug Strategy, Program Year 2016, Oregon HIDTA Program, at 12-13 (June 2015).
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) joint investigation involving the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Portland Police Bureau and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Scott Kerin.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
