Eastern Oregon Man Caught With Methamphetamine and a Stolen Firearm Sentenced to Federal Prison
By Joe Hathaway on Friday, August 18th, 2023 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER AND MALHEUR COUNTIES – (Release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office) An Eastern Oregon man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced to federal prison after he was arrested with more than two pounds of methamphetamine and a stolen firearm while on supervision following his release from state prison.
Tom Raymond Carroll, 39, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, in February 2021, special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) identified Carroll as a drug dealer operating in Baker and Malheur Counties in Eastern Oregon. Carroll had recently been released from Oregon state prison following convictions for drug trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm. On February 20, 2021, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine and heroin from Carroll. During the transaction, Carroll warned the purchasers to be careful because someone had recently died from the drugs he was distributing.
In early May 2021, law enforcement obtained and executed state search warrants for Carroll’s vehicle and person and a hotel room he was renting in Baker City, Oregon. A backpack found in his hotel room contained more than two pounds of methamphetamine, a stolen firearm, drug ledgers and paraphernalia, and more than $20,000 in cash.
On May 20, 2021, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment charging Carroll with possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On March 20, 2023, Carroll pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by ATF with assistance from the Baker City Police Department, Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, Ontario Police Department, and Oregon State Police. It was prosecuted by Marco A. Boccato, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
(Additional information released by the Baker City Police Department)
On Thursday, August 17th, 2023, Tom Raymond Carroll was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison as the result of an investigation by the Baker County Narcotics Enforcement Team that originated in 2021. Detectives identified Mr. Carroll as being a trafficker in both methamphetamine and fentanyl pills throughout Eastern Oregon and specifically in Baker City. The initial investigation culminated in a search warrant being executed on a Baker City hotel room in May of 2021 where detectives seized over two pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, over twenty thousand dollars in cash and a stolen firearm. At that time, Mr. Carroll was on post-prison supervision for drug and firearms offenses. The Baker County Narcotics Enforcement Team asked the ATF and the US Attorney’s Office to review the case. Mr. Carroll was again arrested for possession of methamphetamine in Baker City in January of 2022 after he was released from federal custody pending sentencing. He was also charged with a violation of his release agreement. The Baker County Narcotics Enforcement Team is comprised of members from the Baker City Police Department. BCNET works cooperatively with the Baker County District Attorney’s Office. The goal of BCNET detectives is to disrupt and/or dismantle mid to upper-level drug trafficking individuals and organizations as well as provide intelligence and investigative resources to all our law enforcement partners regarding unlawful criminal activity. Cases like this illustrate that even though the State of Oregon has drastically reduced the ability of officers to combat drug trafficking, cities and agencies that are dedicated to committing the resources and working cooperatively with our federal partners can still make a difference. Cases like this drastically improve the livability of our communities and help reduce the violence and property crimes that go hand in hand with drug use and trafficking.
