Metro Gang Task Force Seizes Guns and Drugs

Area Gang Associate Indicted in Federal Court

PORTLAND, OR—On Monday, August 20, 2012, Lawrence Orlando Lee, 34, appeared in federal court on charges of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and felon in possession of a firearm as an armed career criminal.

The federal case resulted from an August 10, 2012 search warrant that was executed by the Metro Gang Task Force at the defendant’s residence in Gresham, Oregon. During the execution of the warrant, officers recovered three firearms and a substantial quantity of drugs. The recovered firearms were a .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun, a 9mm Luger KG-99 handgun, and a .45 caliber Firestorm semi-automatic handgun. The drugs seized included approximately 12 1/2 ounces of methamphetamine and approximately 3 1/2 ounces of heroin.

Lee is a convicted felon and allegedly a gang associate. The government has filed a notice of intent to seek enhanced penalties against the defendant based upon his prior felony drug offenses. The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison; the possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison; and the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.

The defendant was detained in federal custody pending his trial date of October 16, 2012. At his arraignment, the defendant entered not guilty pleas to the charges. He was detained as both a danger to the community and based upon the risk that he would not appear at future court proceedings.

The Metro Gang Task Force (MGTF) is a multi-agency investigative unit made up of officers and agents from the Gresham Police Department, Portland Police Bureau; Tigard Police Department; Beaverton Police Department; Milwaukie Police Department; Woodburn Police Department; Canby Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin, the head of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Gang Unit, is handling the prosecution of the case.