22 indicted in drug operation tied to Mexican cartel

22 indicted in alleged drug operation tied to Mexican cartel

10/24/18 Updated 5:11 PM; Posted 3:51 PM

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The indictment alleges that a drug cartel in Michoacan, Mexican distributed methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine to Oregon City resident Victor Alvarez Farfan, 43, of Oregon City. Farfan and associates also are accused of manufacturing crystal methamphetamine from liquid form and distributing it to others to sell across Oregon and in Washington. (AP Photo)
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By Maxine Bernstein
mbernstein@oregonian.com
The Oregonian/OregonLive

Twenty-two people face federal charges in an alleged drug-trafficking conspiracy tied to a Mexican cartel.

Federal agents fanned out across the Portland metro area Wednesday morning and made 17 arrests in a multi-agency investigation involving the FBI, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and local agencies.

By afternoon, 15 of the defendants appeared one by one before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo in downtown Portland. All entered not guilty pleas, and a two-week trial was set for Dec. 18. The defendants remain in custody. Others are expected to appear in court later this week.

A drug cartel in Michoacán, Mexico, distributed methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine to Oregon City resident Victor Alvarez Farfan, 43, of Oregon City, according to the indictment.

Farfan and associates also are accused of manufacturing crystal methamphetamine and distributing it to others to sell across Oregon, including in Portland, Hillsboro, Gresham, Wilsonville, Hood River, Astoria and Seaside, and into Tacoma in Washington.

The indictment says the accused are members of a drug-trafficking ring that conspired to possess and distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.

They used cellphones to commit the crimes and manufactured and stored the drugs in homes, cars and lawn ornaments in the Portland area, prosecutors allege.

They sent profits out of state through money-laundering scheme, prosecutors said.

A co-defendant, John Armas, 41, of Hillsboro, is accused of selling methamphetamine he received from Farfan to a local distribution cell that operated in the Hillsboro area.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Narus called for Armas to be held as a danger to the community, as he did with all the defendants in the case, and told the judge that Armas' charges could bring a life sentence in prison if he's convicted.

At that, a family member yelled: "No, no, you can't do this to him! Please, I'm begging you,'' and rushed out of the courtroom in tears.

Oregon's U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams thanked law enforcement agencies and said in a statement: "This cartel's efforts to maintain their foothold in our communities has been dealt a lasting blow.''

The Westside Interagency Narcotics Task Force and the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force worked on the investigation with federal agents.

Others charged are: Silverio Rubio Valdovinos, 35, of Gresham; Eduardo Alvarez Farfan, 24, of Gresham; Roberto Carlos Farfan Alvarez, 23, of Oregon City; Genaro Fernandez Gonzalez, 26, of Salem; Randy Eugene Roberts, 51, of Hillsboro; Kathleen Joan Roberts, 53, of Hillsboro; Socorro Elena Gutierrez, 38, of Hillsboro; Taylor Michael McKemie, 55, of Hillsboro; Keith Frederick Teufel, 59, of Hillsboro; Kirstie Alexandria Mirelez, 27, of Portland; Jessica Marie Stinnett, 39, of Astoria; Athena Marie Johnson, 48, of Hillsboro; Catherine Arlene Cunningham, 51, of Hood River, Randall Deal Manuel, 47, of Chehalis, Wash.; and Rene Diaz Gutierrez, 36, of Vancouver.

The names of five of the 22 defendants remain under seal.

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