Portland Fire & Rescue - IN THE NEWS

Portland Tribune - Pamplin Media Group

March 3, 2011

http://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=129922386242136600 

Federal investigation nabs three dozen on drug, gun charges -- An eight-month undercover investigation grabbed nearly three dozen gang members and others who were arrested recently on drug and gun charges.

U.S. Attorney Dwight C. Holton and Multnomah County District Attorney Michael D. Schrunk announced the arrests of more than 30 defendants by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Metro Gang Task Force and other local police departments.

Holton told reporters Thursday morning that 23 indictments had been returned for 25 defendants with federal gun and drug charges. In the past 36 hours, the Metro Gang Task Force and other departments executed search warrants at eight locations in Portland, Multnomah County, Clackamas County and Clark County, Wash.

Seventeen defendants have been charged with state drug and firearms crimes. The cases resulted from a long-term, under-cover investigation that began in June 2010 by ATF and the Metro Gang Task Force, targeting people illegally possessing firearms and distributing narcotics.

“We have got to stem the tide of gun and drug violence in our community,” Holton said. “This long-term undercover operation is a down payment — and we’ve got lots more work to do.”

In addition to the ATF and the Metro Gang Task Force, the investigation included work by the U.S. Marshals Office, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Troutdale Police Department, the Fairview Police Department, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Portland Police Bureau, Metro/SMGTF and Gun Unit/NRT, Portland Fire & Rescue, the Beaverton Police Department, the Salem Police Department, Vancouver Police/CCAT, the Milwaukie Police Department, Clark/Skamania Drug Task Force, the Tigard Police Department, the Gresham Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsboro Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin, chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Gang Unit, is prosecuting the cases.

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