Prominent Oregon drug trafficker, latest suspect in major drug ring, gets 8 years in federal prison

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The manager of an Oregon drug trafficking cell with ties to a major drug trafficking organization in Mexico was sentenced Monday to more than eight years in federal prison following an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Horacio Luna-Perez, 42, of Hillsboro, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison and five years of probation.

According to court documents, DEA special agents began investigating a drug trafficking organization with ties to Mexico that operated in several states, including Oregon, in November 2020.

Early in the investigation, Luna-Perez was identified as the leader of an Oregon-based drug trafficking cell responsible for maintaining a steady supply and sale of various narcotics, including methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl, throughout Portland and Eastern Washington. In his role, Luna-Perez led a network of associates and couriers responsible for obtaining, selling, and redistributing the narcotics.

As part of the same investigation, DEA agents identified a separate drug trafficking cell responsible for the redistribution and sale of drugs in Portland and Salem. The cell was led by Jesus Miramontes-Castaneda, 34, of Portland.

On August 11, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Miramontes-Castaneda and five associates with conspiring to smuggle large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine from California for distribution in Portland and Salem. A month later, on September 14, 2021, Luna-Perez and nine associates were charged in a separate indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine from California for distribution in and around Portland and Eastern Washington. Luna-Perez’s cell also had ties to drug traffickers in Colorado and California.

Following these indictments, coordinated law enforcement operations in August and October 2021 targeting the Luna-Perez and Miramontes-Castaneda drug trafficking cells led to the arrests of both men and sixteen accomplices, including several individuals whose involvement in the plots was previously unknown. Additional charges were filed against these suspects in several parallel cases.

As a result of the various interceptions and seizures made as part of this investigation, authorities seized approximately 200,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, two pounds of fentanyl powder, 40 pounds of methamphetamine, 45 pounds of heroin, 13 pounds of cocaine, nine firearms, and more than $1.4 million in cash that had been bundled and placed in suitcases.

On August 12, 2022, Miramontes-Castaneda pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. Two months later, on December 8, 2022, he was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison and five years of probation.

On January 22, 2024, Luna-Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.

In addition to Luna Perez and Miramontes-Castaneda, 17 members of their cells have pleaded guilty as part of this investigation and have been sentenced to federal prison terms for their involvement in various drug plots. The sentences range from time already served to 151 months in prison.

These cases were investigated by the DEA with assistance from Oregon State Police, Portland Police Bureau, Tigard Police Department, the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF), including member agencies Canby Police Department, Oregon City Police Department, and Tualatin Police Department; and Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE). They were prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

These cases are the result of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by utilizing a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.