Oregon drug trafficker with ties to California, Colorado and Mexico sentenced to prison | Oregon

(The Center Square) – The leader of an Oregon-based drug smuggling cell with ties to a major drug trafficking organization based in Mexico was sentenced to prison in a federal prison this week following an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Horacio Luna-Perez, 42, of Hillsboro, Oregon, was sentenced to 97 months in a federal prison and five years of probation, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

DEA special agents began investigating a drug trafficking organization that was active in several states, including Oregon, and had ties to Mexico.

“In the early stages of the investigation, Luna-Perez was identified as the leader of an Oregon-based drug trafficking cell responsible for maintaining a constant supply and sale of various narcotics, including methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl, in Portland and Eastern Washington,” the press release states. “In his role, Luna-Perez managed a network of associates and couriers responsible for the procurement, sale and redistribution of the narcotics.”

As part of the same investigation, DEA agents identified another drug trafficking cell responsible for the distribution and sale of drugs in Portland and Salem, Oregon. Jesus Miramontes-Castaneda, a 34-year-old Portland resident, led the operation.

A grand jury in a federal court in Portland on August 11, 2021, indicted Miramontes-Castaneda and five accomplices on charges of “conspiracy to smuggle large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine from California for distribution in Portland and Salem,” the press release said.

The following month, Luna-Perez and nine accomplices were charged in a separate indictment with “conspiracy to possess heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute from California for distribution in and around Portland and Eastern Washington,” the press release said.

The cell led by Luna-Perez also had ties to drug traffickers in Colorado and California.

Following these charges, police action against the drug trafficking cells of Luna-Perez and Miramontes-Castaneda led to the arrest of both men and 16 of their accomplices.

“Additional charges have been brought against these defendants in several parallel proceedings,” the press release states.

As a result of the numerous cease and desist actions and arrests made during this investigation, law enforcement seized approximately “200,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, two pounds of fentanyl powder, 40 pounds of methamphetamine, 45 pounds of heroin, 13 pounds of cocaine, nine firearms, and more than $1.4 million in cash bundled and stuffed into suitcases,” the press release states.

Miramontes-Castaneda pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine on August 12, 2022. In December 2022, he received a 78-month sentence in a federal prison plus five years of probation.

Additionally, on January 22, 2024, Luna-Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.

In addition to Luna Perez and Miramontes-Castaneda, 17 members of their cells have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to federal prison terms for their involvement in the various drug conspiracies.