Wednesday, August 21, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
19
Jury convicts meth traffickers who operated in Central Oregon
U.S. Attorney Billy J.
Williams announced that a fed-
eral jury in Eugene has found
two men guilty of traffick-
ing methamphetamine from
Southern California to Central
Oregon and the Portland
metro area for distribution.
On August 9, 2019, Ronald
Wayne Thrasher, 49, of
Madras, was found guilty of
purchasing and transporting
methamphetamine for distri-
bution. Thrasher9s supplier,
Russell Marvin Jones, 53, of
Gresham, was found guilty of
selling methamphetamine and
possessing a stolen firearm.
Both men were also found
guilty of being felons in pos-
session of a firearm.
Thrasher and Jones have
each served time in prison
for past convictions. Thrasher
served time in federal prison
for being a felon in posses-
sion of a firearm and Jones in
Oregon state prison for first
degree manslaughter.
Nine co-defendants have
previously pleaded guilty to
conspiring with Thrasher to
possess with intent to distrib-
ute methamphetamine and are
awaiting sentencing: Jordan
Michael Johnson, 57, of San
Diego, California; Brenda
Ann Lederman, 46, of Santee,
California; Jason James
Puckett, 46, of Prineville;
Tyler Wayne Fuller, 30, Renee
Marie Scarlett, 48, and Talina
Shantel Ortiz, 45, of Madras;
Jacklin Renee Bowlby, 36, of
Bend; Kerry Wayne Hopson,
33, of Redmond; and Mistie
Dawn Cooper, 39, of Alfalfa.
Fuller also pleaded guilty to
robbing a bank in Madras.
According to court docu-
ments and testimony produced
at trial, in spring of 2016,
Thrasher became acquainted
with multiple co-defendants
who were engaged in traf-
ficking methamphetamine
from Santee, San Diego, and
Portland for resale in Central
Oregon. Thrasher used these
connections to establish a
source of supply for his own
use and distribution.
In early 2017, after his pri-
mary supplier was arrested in
Redmond, an associate intro-
duced Thrasher to Jones, a
methamphetamine manufac-
turer, dealer and user in the
Portland area. On or about
February 17, 2017, Thrasher
traveled to Portland with his
associates to meet Jones.
During this meeting, Jones
sold Thrasher several pounds
of methamphetamine. On
March 20, 2017, after several
additional methamphetamine
deals, Jones sold Thrasher a
stolen firearm.
By April 2017, Thrasher
was distributing methamphet-
amine via multiple associates
throughout Central Oregon.
On April 9, 2017, he was
introduced to new California-
based methamphetamine sup-
pliers including Stevens. Two
weeks later, Thrasher and an
associate drove to Santee to
meet with his new suppliers.
VACCINATION:
Personal, informed
care benefits decisions
going on in our community,=
she said. <Protect yourself
if you travel. I9ve seen some
funny stuff coming back from
Costa Rica.=
By the same token, one
should not live in fear of lurk-
ing disease.
<Don9t go to the extreme
of 8if I don9t vaccinate against
everything, I9m going to die!9=
she said.
Dr. Miller throws up a cau-
tion flag of her own when it
comes to pushes for vaccina-
tions for diseases that can be
avoided through lifestyle.
<How far should vaccines
go?= she queries. <Should it
be irresponsibility vaccines?=
Recent outbreaks of mea-
sles demonstrate that when
rates of immunization drop,
diseases that have been in
check can rear their heads
again virulently.
People in Sisters are fortu-
nate in that they have access to
more individualized and per-
sonal healthcare and can make
appropriate choices in consul-
tation with a doctor who actu-
ally knows them.
That personal relationship is
key, as far as Dr. Miller is con-
cerned. She defined her stance
on vaccination baldly: <I9m
pro vaccination that is very
personal. That9s what I am.=
Continued from page 10
<They take newborns
to Costco, a week old,= Dr.
Miller said. <We want to
do whatever we want to do,
regardless of what our bodies
are designed to do.=
Vaccinations are not just
for children. Adults have the
possibility of vaccinating
against pneumonia, flu, shin-
gles and other diseases.
Dr. Miller advocates mind-
ful assessment of needs, risks
and benefits. She says that she
is an advocate of <purposeful=
vaccination.
<Be in tune with what is
BEGINNING BIBLICAL
GREEK CLASS
with Gary Radmacher
her
Retired Pastor, Former College & Seminary
ary Prof.
Thursdays 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Starting September 12
NO CHARGE, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
SISTERS COMMUNITY CHURCH
1300 W. McKenzie Highway, Sisters
Be able to dig deeper when studying the New
Testament by learning the Greek alphabet, the
basic language structure, and the fundamental
Greek vocabulary of critical interpretation.
The textbook required for the class, Do It Yourself Hebrew
and Greek, by Edward Goodrick, is available at Amazon.com.
Register or request info at www.radmacher.us
gary@radmacher.us • 503-309-0467
During this meeting, Thrasher
purchased approximately 13
pounds of methamphetamine
from Stevens.
In May 2017, a Central
Oregon Drug Enforcement
(CODE) team investiga-
tion identified Thrasher as
a high-volume metham-
phetamine supplier and dis-
tributor. On May 29, 2017,
CODE detectives, assisted
by a U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) agent,
arrested Thrasher and seized
approximately 16 pounds of
methamphetamine, $16,000
in cash, records of drug sales
and the stolen firearm from his
residence in Madras.
Thrasher and Jones will
be sentenced on February 4,
2020 and November 14, 2019,
respectively, before U.S.
District Court Judge Michael
J. McShane.
This case was investi-
gated by CODE; DEA; the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms, and Explosives;
and the Oregon State Police.
It was prosecuted by Frank R.
Papagni Jr. and Judi Harper,
Assistant U.S. Attorneys for
the District of Oregon, with
the assistance of the Jefferson,
Crook and Deschutes county
district attorney9s offices.
Camp Sherman
Open 7 days a week,
12-9 p.m.
541-595-6420
Gypsy Wind Clothing
Want to Look
and Be Cool?!
Summer tops and
dresses still available!
Open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Sun., 1-4 p.m.
351 W. HOOD AVE., SISTERS
The 24th Annual
Country Fair
& Art Show
The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration wishes to thank the following
for their support and contribution to the success of our event!
Selah Broderick • Mckenzie Wilcox • Barefoot in Sisters • XPress Printing
The Pony Express • Sisters Bakery • The Cottonwood Café • The Hair Caché
Bedouin • Sisters Coffee Co. • Essentials Skin Care • Paulina Springs Books
Sisters Feed & Supply • Sisters Movie House • Rainshadow Organics
Wendy Vernon Designs • High Desert Hair Company • Flowers by Deanna
Jennifer Hartwig • Ray’s Food Place • Melvin’s by Newport Avenue Market
Sisters Rental • Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD • Danica Curtwright
Heather McMaster • Norma Holmes • Smart Foodservice Warehouse
The Hen’s Tooth • The Paper Place • Three Creeks Brewing Co. • Hike-N-Peaks
Alan Higgenbotham • Linda Wolff • The Porch • Dan Rickard • Curtiss Abbott
Joanne Donaca • Costco • Fika Sisters Coffeehouse • Conrad Weiler
JoAnn Burgess • Joann Donaca • Barbara Slater • Stitchin’ Post • Hola!
Schoolhouse Produce • Faveur Boutique • Tate and Tate Catering • Lydia Kulus
Suttle Tea • Camp Sherman Store • Lake Creek Lodge • Takoda’s • Seed to Table
Mitch & Michelle Deaderick • Sylvia Avenius-Ford • Diane Miyauchi
Cari and Terry Papen • Randall Tillery • Sue McLaughlin
Wildflower Studio • The Fly Fisher’s Place • Gypsy Wind Clothing Co.
Westside Church • St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church
Kathy Deggendorfer • Cork Cellars • Chuck Harper • Heidi & Rick Tremblay
Dave Tremblay • Todd, Cash and Crosby Jordan • Ron Bryant
All proceeds will go to support our Church Community Outreach Program, which
provides grants to local community support organizations throughout the year.