Two Defendants Indicted for Heroin Trafficking in Portland Resulting in the Deaths of Joshua Reeves and Patrick McGinnis

March 5, 2010 - PORTLAND, OR—Dwight C. Holton, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Michael D. Schrunk, Multnomah County District Attorney, announced today the joint investigation leading to the federal indictment of two individuals for two deaths resulting from heroin overdoses. Jose Luis Torres Rojas and Jose I. Hernandez Flores were each charged in a sealed indictment on February 23, 2010 for the two homicides. The charges were brought in connection with a long term investigation led by the Portland Police Bureau and the Regional Organized Narcotics Task Force (ROCN).

The investigation centered on two tragic deaths resulting from heroin overdoses. Patrick McGinnis, 38, was found dead of a heroin overdose on January 4, 2009. Mr. McGinnis died in a condominium in the Pearl District. Investigators found drug paraphernalia and a small quantity of black tar heroin. Joshua Reeves, 28, died of a heroin overdose on July 29, 2009. Mr. Reeves was found by his mother in the rear of Reeves’ van parked near the Lloyd Center. He also was found with drug paraphernalia and evidence of black tar heroin.

Patrick McGinnis and Joshua Reeves were among the more than 100 individuals that die from drug overdose each year in Multnomah County. The vast majority of those overdose deaths involve the use of heroin. McGinnis and Reeves had both long struggled to overcome their heroin addictions.

Distribution of “black tar” heroin is a growing problem in Oregon. This form of heroin, which is inexpensive to manufacture, has presented a cheap way for drug dealers to keep drug addicts hooked on heroin. Black tar heroin—named for its appearance and thick consistency—is generally manufactured in Mexico and shipped to the United States for large-scale retail distribution.

On March 3, 2010, law enforcement officers executed two search warrants and arrested Rojas, age 30, Flores, age 37 and Jose Ismael Torres Rojas, age 18. They are all citizens of Mexico. Rojas and Flores were charged in the first two counts of the federal indictment with distribution of heroin resulting in the death of Patrick McGinnis and Joshua Reeves. The third defendant, Jose Ismael Torres Rojas, was also charged in the federal indictment with distribution of over 100 grams of heroin.

In 2006, in response to the alarming number of drug overdose deaths that occur in Portland each year, the Portland Police Bureau and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office started a project to investigate overdose deaths as potential homicides. As a result of this initiative, investigators from the Drug and Vice Division (DVD) are now called on all drug overdose deaths. DVD then investigates all available leads in an effort to determine the ultimate source of the fatal substance. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office have made the investigation and prosecution of drug overdose cases a high priority due to the devastating impact drug distribution has in Oregon. Several significant drug dealers who would have otherwise gone undetected, have been arrested, successfully prosecuted, and sentenced to prison in both state and federal court as a result of this combined state and local effort to investigate and prosecute drug overdose deaths.

In this case, as the investigations into the deaths of Patrick McGinnis and Joshua Reeves expanded, DVD investigators were assisted by the Regional Organized Crime Narcotics Task Force (ROCN), the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

“Without the hard work, cooperation and skill of the dedicated investigators from each of these agencies, this successful investigation would not have been possible,” said Multnomah District Attorney Michael D. Shrunk. “We commend the investigators for their important work and relentless investigation.”

“This case bears witness that the drug trade in Oregon is deadly,” said U.S. Attorney Dwight C. Holton. “My heart goes out to the families of Joshua Reeves and Patrick McGinnis. To those who peddle these deadly drugs: know that law enforcement is coming for you.”

The homicide charges, which were brought under the “Len Bias” statute, each carry a minimum prison term of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison. The homicide charges also carry a fine of up to $2 million. The heroin distribution charge in the federal indictment carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Trial is set for May 4, 2010, before U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen Bickers and Leah Bolstad.