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United States Attorney's Office Announces District Election Officer
PORTLAND, Ore.—United States Attorney Natalie Wight announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Ethan Knight will lead the efforts of this office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Ethan Knight, Cyber and National Security Unit Chief, has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Oregon, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the
Child Sexual Predator Eluded Capture in Idaho, Has Ties to Southern Oregon, He May Be Dressed as a Woman (Photo)
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho - A fugitive with ties to the southern Oregon region is on-the-run after eluding capture Tuesday, October 22 in Idaho. Christian Bert Fischer, 42, is wanted in Florida for Traveling to Meet a Minor After Use of a Computer to Lure a Child. Fischer is a white male, 5’10”, 200 lbs., has blonde hair and blue-colored eyes. He is also known to dress like a woman. Before heading to Idaho, Fischer was in the Portland area. This June and July, he was in Ashland, Lake of the Woods, an
17 People Indicted for Conspiring to Steal More Than $2.4 Million in SNAP Benefits
PORTLAND, Ore.—17 people are facing federal charges for conspiring to defraud the United States of more than $2.4 million in fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.A coordinated, multi-agency law enforcement operation was conducted Tuesday to dismantle the interstate fraud organization that used skimming devices and stolen Electric Benefits Transfer (EBT) accounts to purchase SNAP-eligible products fo
Wilsonville Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Laundering More Than $4.6 Million in Drug Proceeds
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Wilsonville, Oregon woman was sentenced to federal prison today for laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds as the chief money launderer for a drug trafficking organization operating in the Pacific Northwest and California.Jacqueline Paola Rodriguez Barrientos, 44, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.“We thank the coordinated efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners actively combatting these drug traff
Sheriff's Deputies, Search & Rescue Attempting to Locate Missing Woman Last Seen in Prospect Area (Photo)
JCSO Case 24-5775 PROSPECT, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies along with Search and Rescue (SAR) are attempting to locate a woman missing out of Prospect since early Sunday morning, October 20. April Larson is described as a 41-year-old white woman, 5’6” tall, weighing 120 lbs. She has purple and blue dyed hair with brown eyes. April was last seen around 1:00 AM going for a walk in the 1st Street area of Prospect. She had a flashlight and is believed to be wearing dark clot
Missing Persons: Pratt, Donald and Eric
Donald PrattAge: 71Sex: MaleRace: WhiteHeight: 6'0"Weight: 240Hair: BrownEyes: Brown***Eric PrattAge: 39Sex: MaleRace: WhiteHeight:6'4"Weight: 300Hair: BrownEyes: BrownOn October 20, 2024, Donald and Eric Pratt went hunting. Their vehicle was captured on cameras heading out to the Illinois Valley early that morning. It is believed they went up Lone Mountain Rd in O'Brien and may be near the Sourdough Campground. They are in a white Toyota pickup with a white canopy, Oregon plate 267 CZH.Pleas
Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers formally mobilized for overseas mission in Egypt (Photo)
ASHLAND, Ore. – The Oregon Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment were formally mobilized during a ceremony held at Raider Stadium on the campus of Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, Oregon, on October 20, 2024.Nearly 205 Citizen-Soldiers will be part of a Multinational Force and Observers Mission in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The unit’s primary mission will be to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and emp
Oregon Citizen-Soldiers prepare for overseas mission in Egypt (Photo)
SALEM, Ore. – A mobilization ceremony for the Oregon Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment (1-186th) will be held at Raider Stadium on the campus of Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, Oregon at 11:00 a.m., on Sunday October 20, 2024.Nearly 205 Citizen-Soldiers will be part of a Multinational Force and Observers Mission in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The unit’s primary mission will be to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli
Jury Convicts Klamath Falls Man Who Kidnapped and Sexually Assaulted Two Women and Held One in Cell
MEDFORD, Ore.— A federal jury found a KlamathFalls, Oregon man guilty after he kidnapped and sexually assaulted two women, and held one in a cell he constructed in his garage.Negasi Zuberi, 30, also known as Justin Joshua Hyche, was found guilty of kidnapping, transporting a victim for criminal sexual activity, and illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.According to court documents, on July 15, 2023, while in Seattle, Zuberi posed as a police officer and used a taser
Sheriff's Office Investigating Abandoned Backpack off Pacific Crest Trail near Mt. Ashland (Photo)
JCSO Case 24-5698 MOUNT ASHLAND, Ore. - Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies along with Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel are investigating an abandoned backpack located in the Grouse Gap Warming Shelter off the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) near Mt. Ashland. JCSO deputies and SAR teams are conducting a search of the area. If you have lost your pack in that area or can identify the owner of the pictured pack please call the ECSO Dispatch non-emergency number at (541) 776-7206 and referenc
Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Pandemic Unemployment Benefits
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for stealing more than $147,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits from the Oregon Employment Department (OED).Matthew Kemp, 41, was sentenced to six months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. Kemp was also ordered to pay $147,294 in restitution to the OED.According to court documents, between July 2020 and January 2021, Kemp devised and carried out a scheme whereby he used the personal information of 17 pe
Detectives, ODF Conducting Joint Fire Investigation After County Bridge Burns, Damages Could Exceed $1,000,000 (Photo)
JCSO Case 24-5571 BUTTE FALLS, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Fire Investigators are conducting a joint investigation after a fire on a Butte Falls area bridge Thursday morning. At 8 AM, JCSO deputies received a call for a fire east of Butte Falls on the Fredenburg Road bridge over North Fork Big Butte Creek. Butte Falls Volunteer Fire and Rescue firefighters put out the fire just after 8:30 AM and there was no spread to the surro
Missing Person: Stilke, Morefire
Date of Report: 10/7/2024Case #: 24-23828Name: Morefire Zyerin StilkeSex: FemaleAge: 39Height: 5'7"Weight: 180Hair: BlondeEyes: BlueInformation: On October 7, 2024, we received a report that Morefire Stilke has not had contact with family since July of 2024. She was last known to be residing in the Cave Junction area. At this time, there is very limited information for her potential whereabouts. Please contact Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information.Phone: 541-474-5123
Oregon National Guard Major Reclaims Burpee World Record (Photo)
SALEM, Ore. — Maj. Tommy Vu of the Oregon Army National Guard has reclaimed his world record for the most chest-to-ground burpees completed in one hour, performing an astounding 1,027 repetitions on October 5, 2024.Vu, a medical officer with the Oregon National Guard's Medical Command, surpassed his previous record of 1,003 burpees set in March 2023. The feat, pending official validation from Guinness World Records, took place at Lancaster Physiq Fitness in Salem, Oregon."I've got a really stron
New York Man Sentenced to 15 years in Federal Prison for Traveling to Oregon to Sexually Abuse a Child He Met Playing an Online Video Game
MEDFORD, Ore.—A New York man was sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for traveling to Southern Oregon to sexually abuse a child and capturing the abuse on video. Brent Johnson, Jr., 26, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release. According to court documents, in August 2021, Johnson contacted a child through an online video game and, after exchanging phone numbers with the child, continued communicating with them via text messages and phone calls. Undet
JMET Search Warrant: Holton Creek Rd, Cave Junction (Photo)
INCIDENT: Marijuana Search Warrant INCIDENT DATE: October 1, 2024 REPORTING DEPUTY: Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET)ARRESTED: Ahron Lee Wilson, 42 years-oldCHARGES: 1- Unlawful Manufacturing of Marijuana 2- Unlawful Possession of Marijuana x2 3- Unlawful Appropriation of WaterDETAILS: On October 1, 2024, the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) with the assistance of Josephine County Public Health & Building Safety, executed a s
SAR Conducts Nighttime Rescue of Man Lost Hiking Mt. McLoughlin (Photo)
MOUNT MCLOUGHLIN, Ore. - Jackson County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) team members successfully located and rescued a 40-year-old Central Point man from Mt. McLoughlin at 9:30 PM last night. While the mountain’s daytime high temperatures reached into the 80’s, the overnight low temperature dipped to 29 degrees near dawn, making for dangerous conditions. At 7:00 AM on Saturday, September 28, the man set out alone to climb the 9,493-foot Mt. McLoughlin. After summiting, he began his return but
Tigard Mother and Daughter Indicted for Holding Three Victims in Indentured Servitude in Adult Foster Care Home
PORTLAND, Ore.—A mother and daughter from Tigard, Oregon were arraigned in federal court today after they were indicted for using force and threats to compel three victims, including a minor victim, to work for little or no pay in an adult foster care home.Marie Gertrude Jean Valmont, 66, and Yolandita Marie Andre, 30, have been charged in a seven-count indictment with conspiring with one another to commit forced labor, committing forced labor, and benefitting from forced labor.According to cour
JMET Search Warrant: White Schoolhouse Rd, Cave Junction (Photo)
RELEASE DATE: September 26, 2024INCIDENT: Marijuana Search Warrant INCIDENT DATE: September 25, 2024 REPORTING DEPUTY: Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET)SUSPECT: Sharon Margulis, 47 years-oldCHARGES: 1- Unlawful Manufacturing of Marijuana 2- Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 3- Unlawful Appropriation of WaterDETAILS: On September 25, 2024, the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) executed a search warrant in the 1000 block of White Sc
Prineville Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Multi-Million Dollar Drug Treatment Fraud Scheme
EUGENE, Ore.—A Prineville, Oregon woman was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for using stolen identities to submit fraudulent health care claims resulting in over $1.5 million in misappropriated funds from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Medicaid Program and filing false tax returns that failed to report earnings she received.Darla K. Byus, 55, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $2,033,315 in restitution to OHA and