Drug dealer with a decades-long criminal history was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison

Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino said, “DEA is committed to working with our state, local and federal partners at curbing the violence in our communities.”

“This sentence is an important step in our joint mission to disrupt, dismantle, and destroy violent drug trafficking organizations who threaten the very communities we aim to protect,” he added.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms-Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson said, “Mr. Thrasher’s sentence is fitting for the illegal actions he has taken. ATF will always work to bring to justice those who cause harm in their communities.”

Thrasher was convicted alongside his supplier, Russell Marvin Jones, 54, of Gresham. Prosecutors said both men conspired with one another and others to traffic methamphetamine from Southern California to Central Oregon and the Portland area for distribution.

For his role in the scheme, Jones was sentenced to 200 months in prison and five years’ supervised release. Nine other co-defendants have pleaded guilty to conspiring with Thrasher.

According to court documents and testimony produced at trial, in the spring of 2016, Thrasher became acquainted with several co-defendants who were engaged in trafficking methamphetamine from Santee and San Diego, California, and Portland for resale in Central Oregon.

This case was investigated by CODE, DEA, ATF and the Oregon State Police. It was prosecuted Frank R. Papagni Jr. and Judi Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, with the assistance of the Jefferson, Crook and Deschutes county district attorney’s offices.