Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | United States Attorney Kent S. Robinson |
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #15727 Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Cockfighting and Distribution of Methamphetamine
Silverton, OR (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Mar 15, 2008
County: Marion
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Miguel Ochoa Sanchez
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
DEA Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Arnold R. Moorin and the Acting United States Attorney Kent S. Robinson announced that on August 3, 2009, Miguel Ochoa Sanchez was sentenced to 151 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine. Sanchez was also sentenced to time served since his March 15, 2008 arrest for his participation in cockfighting, a felony under the Animal Welfare Act.
In March 2008, 28 search warrants were executed throughout Oregon and eastern Washington, stemming from a joint two-year investigation into drug trafficking and cockfighting by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG).
The USDA-OIG initiated an investigation in December 2005 into illegal rooster or gamecock derbies, commonly known as “cockfighting” which was occurring throughout Oregon and Washington. The DEA, Salem Resident Office joined the investigation in 2006 after learning that some of the cockfighting organizers, fighters, and spectators were involved in trafficking illegal drugs.
In early 2006, Sanchez was identified as one of the cockfighting participants involved in trafficking methamphetamine. During the investigation, Sanchez was observed participating in at least five cockfighting derbies, and distributing methamphetamine throughout Oregon and eastern Washington. At one point Sanchez sold approximately one-quarter pound of methamphetamine that had been hidden in a chicken coup at his family’s home, and on another occasion he sold approximately one pound of methamphetamine to law enforcement in Washington. Sanchez was arrested on March 15, 2008 and law enforcement seized from his family home in Silverton, Oregon, cocaine, marijuana, and 16 firearms.
Several cases against other defendants arrested as a result of this investigation remain pending before the United States District Court.
A task force of other federal, state, county and city police agencies including the Keizer Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Salem Police Department, and the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, in addition to many others, assisted with the investigation.
Case UpdatesA man serving time in federal prison for a conviction related to a cockfighting and drug ring was mistakenly released from custody Saturday, officials said Thursday.
Officials are asking the public's help to find Miguel Ochoa-Sanchez, 24. A clerical error resulted in his release from the Marion County jail about 10:30 p.m. Aug. 29.
Ochoa-Sanchez, who is a convicted sex offender, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in March 2008 for his alleged involvement in a multistate cockfighting organization.
He was sentenced last month to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for a conviction of distribution of methamphetamine related to the illegal cockfighting ring, officials said.
Cockfighting is an illegal sport in which roosters with weapons tied to their legs fight to the death and typically involves gambling and drug deals.
On Aug. 25, he was moved to the Marion County jail to take care of pending charges of giving false information to police, two counts of driving under the influence and two counts of driving with a suspended license, said Lt. Sheila Lorance, a spokeswoman for the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
When Ochoa-Sanchez was booked into jail, a federal hold was not placed on his record, Lorance said. The jail filled and to make space, Ochoa-Sanchez was released from custody because his local charges were less severe than others, she said.
Ochoa-Sanchez would not have been released were staffers aware of the federal hold, Lorance said. He was told to appear in court Tuesday.
A warrant was issued for Ochoa-Sanchez's arrest when he did not appear in court.
Ochoa-Sanchez is a convicted sex offender and has also been convicted of assault, Lorance said.
He now is wanted for a federal escape charge.
Ochoa-Sanchez is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Lorance said he listed a Salem address as his own and has family in Mount Angel.
The U.S. Marshals and Marion County Sheriff's Office are offering a reward of up to $7,000 to anyone who provides information leading to his arrest.
Ochoa-Sanchez's mistaken release was not made public sooner because U.S. Marshals wanted to follow up several leads while they could be sure Ochoa-Sanchez didn't know they were looking for him, Lorance said.
In March 2008, federal agents arrested 63 people in Washington and Oregon in a sting operation called "Red Rooster" in Oregon. The arrests came after a two-year federal investigation into cockfighting and drug rings in the Pacific Northwest.
Ochoa-Sanchez was allegedly part of that network.
Twenty-nine of the people arrested were from Marion County and 11 were from Salem, federal officials said at the time. Officials seized about 50 guns, more than $100,000 cash and at least 700 roosters during the sting operation. | Source: Statesman Journal - Sept 4, 2009
Update posted on Sep 4, 2009 - 11:51PM |
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