Byram: PPD investigated Pendleton Chamber finances
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Pendleton Police Chief Chuck Byram says his department, led by Criminal Sgt. Rick Jackson, investigated the possibility of financial crimes committed at the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce.
He added that a suspect has been identified and interviewed. He did not name the suspect since no criminal charges have been filed yet. However, he believes that it will become public as the case progresses through the Oregon Department of Justice. Byram said such crimes are very complex.
“Once you get into these accounting practices and years and years of maybe misuse of funds, it’s a big can of worms,” he said. “It can unravel really quickly and involve a lot of people that don’t even know that it was going on.”
Byram said the file was turned over to the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office and he expects it will be further investigated at the state level.
“It is my understanding that it is at the district attorney’s office now and it is my understanding that the district attorney is awaiting to see if more investigation needs to be done through the Oregon Department of Justice, through their financial crimes unit, or if what we have is sufficient,” Byram said.
Photo of Chief Chuck Byram via PPD
