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Three convicted for largest meth bust in Oregon history

06:46 PM PDT on Tuesday, October 28, 2008

By DAVID KROUGH, kgw.com Staff

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Three men were found guilty Tuesday in what federal agents called the biggest methamphetamine bust in Oregon history.

In March of 2005, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Westside Interagency Narcotics team put a court-authorized wiretap on Ricardo Mendoza-Morales, who was recently sentenced to 300 months in prison following a conspiracy guilty plea, the FBI said.

That resulted in agents finding over 40 pounds of high-purity meth, the largest amount ever seized in an Oregon drug investigation. Agents also found three kilos of heroin, cocaine, five vehicles with electronically operated hidden compartments for the drugs and $197,000 in cash, the FBI said.

AP

Octavio Mendoza-Morales, 36, Heriberto Montenegro-Mendez, 33, and Hector Villarruel-Lopez, 38, were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.

“We are pleased that the jury held these defendants accountable for their drug trafficking crimes,” U.S. Attorney Karin J. Immergut said. “It is well known here in Oregon that methamphetamine destroys our communities. Those who traffic in this poison must be held responsible.”

A total of eight people were convicted of conspiracy charges, one person remained a fugitive.

A sentencing hearing was set for January.

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