Joachim Felgentraeger is the first defendant to be sentenced in conjunction with a major drug trafficking bust dubbed Operation Icebreaker 2
Attorney General John Kroger today announced the sentencing of a defendant involved in a major drug trafficking case in the Mid-Willamette Valley.
Joachim Felgentraeger (DOB: 8/16/48) pleaded guilty on April 18 to one count of Racketeering and one count of Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine. As part of a plea agreement, he was sentenced today in Benton County Circuit Court to 56 months in prison.
Felgentraeger was among 27 defendants arrested in “Operation Icebreaker 2,” an arrest sweep conducted last month by numerous state and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the state. A search warrant was executed at his residence on March 13, 2012.
Operation Icebreaker 2 marked the culmination of a nine month, multi-agency investigation into a highly organized, sophisticated and structured illegal drug trafficking and racketeering distribution enterprise in Benton, Linn and Marion Counties. Agencies involved in the investigation include the Oregon Department of Justice, the Corvallis Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Benton County District Attorney’s Office, Albany Police Department and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
Defendants in this case, operating out of their homes and through a network of associates, have been distributing Methamphetamine and Heroin throughout the mid-Willamette Valley. The on-going investigation demonstrated that, in a given week, defendants involved in the drug trafficking organization conspired to distribute as much as 4 pounds of methamphetamine and 2 pounds of heroin on a regular basis.
Approximately 180 officers and deputies from throughout the Willamette Valley and Oregon assisted with serving search warrants in March at eighteen locations in Marion, Linn and Benton counties. Law enforcement seized at least 6.3 lbs. of methamphetamine, 13.1 lbs. of heroin, 3.2 lbs. of cocaine, 28 firearms and approximately $137,058.79 in cash during the arrest sweep.
Definitions:
Racketeering: ORS 166.715
Using an “enterprise” (which can be either a business or an “association in fact” of individuals) which conducts a pattern of criminal activity for the same objective: i.e. selling drugs to make money.
Conspiracy: ORS 161.450
An agreement by two or more people to do something unlawful/criminal.
Money Laundering: ORS 164.170
Using the proceeds of criminal activity to further the criminal enterprise or to use the proceeds of criminal activity to avoid federal reporting requirements.
Narcotics weights to street value: (estimate only)
* 1 lb equals 16 oz.
* 1 oz. equals 28 grams
Methamphetamine: $75 – $100 per gram street value
Heroin: $200 per gram street value
A criminal defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In 2009, the Department of Justice received a $1,531,744 federal grant to create a multi-agency Drug Crimes Strike Force. The new unit works with the Oregon High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area board, the Oregon Sheriffs’ Association, the Oregon Police Chiefs’ Association and the Oregon District Attorneys’ Association.
Attorney General John Kroger leads the Oregon Department of Justice. The Department’s mission is to fight crime and fraud, protect the environment, improve child welfare, promote a positive business climate, and defend the rights of all Oregonians.
Contact:
Kate Medema, 503-569-3027, kate.e.medema@doj.state.or.us