EUGENE, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that a Eugene Springfield Fire Department paramedic has been charged with illegally obtaining controlled substances from a local pharmacy and using them to drug and rape multiple female victims.
Edward Augustus Blake, 44, a resident of Cheshire, Oregon, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, morphine, ketamine, and midazolam. Blake had previously been charged in Lane County Circuit Court with first degree rape and sodomy, strangulation, causing another person to ingest a controlled substance, and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.
According to court documents, as a paramedic, Blake had access to controlled substances from PeaceHealth pharmacy in Springfield, Oregon. Between January 2016 and September 2019, he took approximately 343 vials of the drugs from the pharmacy, but did not enter them into his ambulance’s inventory. Instead, Blake used the drugs to sexually assault at least three local women.
On September 11, 2019, Springfield Police Department officers responded to McKenzie Willamette Hospital after a female victim reported being sexually assaulted by a man claiming to be a Eugene Springfield firefighter. The female victim told officers that she began communicating with the man, later determined to be Blake, through Craigslist. Before they agreed to meet, Blake sent the victim pictures of various medical supplies including medications he claimed to have taken from the ambulance he worked on.
On September 10, 2019, Blake and the victim agreed to meet at a Springfield motel. Blake choked the victim from behind until she lost consciousness. The victim regained consciousness to find an intravenous (IV) needle in her arm. Blake then forced her to take several medications including fentanyl and sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious.
Investigators learned that Blake, using his Oregon driver’s license, rented rooms at the motel on 17 separate occasions. Law enforcement spoke with Blake who confirmed that he was employed as a Eugene Springfield firefighter and admitted he posted personal ads on Craigslist. He further admitted he had sexual intercourse with the victim and placed an IV in her arm.
As part of the investigation, detectives identified two additional victims who reported receiving controlled substances from Blake. One of the victims was hospitalized several times while she knew Blake. Each time she was hospitalized, Blake would show up at her hospital room and administer drugs to her through her IV. She recalled Blake telling her to sell the drugs, but warned her not to let anyone keep the vials, because they could be traced back to him.
Blake is in state custody pending trial in Lane County. In the coming weeks, he is expected to make his first appearance in federal court.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the FBI and the Springfield Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Joseph Huynh, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Investigators are seeking the public’s help to identify additional potential victims who may have had contact with Blake. If you have any reason to believe you or someone you know may be a victim or have additional information about other potential crimes involving this defendant, please contact the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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