Husband And Wife Arrested After Smuggling Fentanyl In Peanut Butter
By Mindy Gould on Thursday, February 17th, 2022 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Featured Stories
BEND, OR (Released from Central Oregon Drug Enforcement)-On February 11th, 2022, at approximately 10:35 AM, the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, in collaboration with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit, concluded a long-term investigation with the arrest of Luke Anthony Martin, age 38, and his wife, Ryeann Martin, age 27, both of Bend, Oregon.
During a concurrent investigation, drug Agents identified the husband and wife as fentanyl traffickers in the central Oregon area. The initial investigation alleges Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been importing large quantities of fentanyl pills and powder from the Portland area into central Oregon where they distribute it.
Based on the investigation, CODE Detectives applied for and obtained a Search Warrant for the Martin home and their vehicle.
After a multi-day and multi-county ground and aerial surveillance operation, the Martins were contacted, and the Search Warrant was executed as they returned home to the 61000 block of Ferguson Court today around 1030AM. Based on Mr. Martin’s violent criminal history and history of carrying weapons, CODE Detectives and the DCSO SWAT Team members utilized two less-lethal explosive devices to temporarily disorient the Martins during their arrest. No one was injured during the arrest. However, both Martins were transported to St Charles Health System – Bend to evaluate unrelated medical conditions. Both were later discharged from the hospital and lodged in Deschutes County Sheriff’s Jail.
At his arrest, Luke Martin held a bag of groceries containing an unusual amount of commercial-sized peanut butter. Detectives located a significant, commercial quantity of fentanyl powder and fraudulent OxyCodone tablets made of fentanyl wrapped in plastic and concealed within the peanut butter. This was likely done to mask odors and prevent drug detection dogs or detectives from finding the fentanyl.
A subsequent search of the home found the Martins possessed stolen mail from all around the Bend area. In addition to the drug trafficking, the Martins have been operating a fake check scam from their home. Investigators allege the husband and wife are printing fake checks using real bank account information taken from unsuspecting people, businesses, and banks with information taken from the stolen mail. The counterfeit checks are often written in their own or conspirator’s names, then cashed at the account holder’s bank. As a result, the victim account holders often don’t find the loss for many days and its often not recoverable.
Mr. Martin was lodged in the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Jail with the following criminal charges.
Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, and Attempted Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl)
Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, and Attempted Distribution of Methamphetamine
Forgery I
Aggravated Identity Theft
Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon
Mrs. Martin was lodged in the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Jail with the following criminal charges.
Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, and Attempted Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl)
Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, and Attempted Distribution of Methamphetamine
Forgery I
Aggravated Identity Theft
The couple’s bail was enhanced, under ORS 475.900, due to the commercial quantities of controlled substances found in their possession.
This investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests are forthcoming.
CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp, 541-550-4869 or kentv@deschutes.org
The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and the following Central Oregon law enforcement agencies: Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Redmond Police Department, Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Madras Police Department, Oregon State Police, Sunriver Police Department, Black Butte Police Department, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Warm Springs Tribal Police Department, Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County District Attorney’s, and the Oregon National Guard.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement task forces to disrupt or dismantle local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations.
