NEWS

Salem drug ring leader sentenced to 17 years in prison

Whitney M. Woodworth
Statesman Journal
PENA-LOPEZ, ALFREDO / Charges: U.S. MARSHAL'S HOLD

The ringleader responsible for trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from California and Mexico into Salem for at least five years was sentenced to 17 years and six months in federal prison.

U.S. District Judge Marco Hernández sentenced Alfredo Pena-Lopez, 43, of Salem, on Monday after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Upon his release, Pena-Lopez, an undocumented immigrant also known as Gerionda, will be deported.

During his five years of leading a drug trafficking operation, Pena-Lopez would smuggle 5 to 10 pounds of methamphetamine into Oregon at a time and sell the drug by the pound.

Court-authorized wiretaps and surveillance revealed that Pena-Lopez stashed his methamphetamine in a U-Haul and parked it at 7 Rios Auto Sales, a Salem vehicle repair business operated by one of his seven co-defendants, Israel Benjamin Rios.

In October 2015, agents conducted a controlled buy of 528 grams — more than a pound — of methamphetamine from Pena-Lopez. Agents also seized large amounts of the drug from two other co-defendants.

Wiretaps also revealed Pena-Lopez directed another co-defendant to sell methamphetamine and ordered a man to retrieve drugs from a local towing company.

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According to the Oregon Department of Justice, Pena-Lopez also personally delivered methamphetamine to his customers, including drug deals at a Salem McDonald's restaurant and a Flying J Truck Stop along Interstate 5.

Warrants were issued for Pena-Lopez's arrest and the arrest of his co-defendants, Rios, Ademir Chavez, Luis Alonso Ortiz Gutierrez, Luis Rey Torres-Ortiz, Juan Paulo Fernandez, Jesus Rivera Hernandez and Fernando Diaz-Castaneda in December 2015.

All were taken into custody by Drug Enforcement Administration agents, and Pena-Lopez's co-defendants are facing charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

At the time of his arrest, Pena-Lopez was storing 3 pounds of methamphetamine, three assault rifles and body armor at the vehicle repair business. He also had $35,000 cash in his home.

He admitted to distributing and possessing drugs. According to court records, Pena-Lopez had no criminal history.

The DEA conducted the investigation with assistance from the Salem Police Department and Oregon Department of Justice investigators.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodwort@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-399-6884 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth

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