A Portland man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking big shipments of methamphetamine and counterfeit fentanyl pills. Jonathan James Lawson, 29, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. The Portland Medium has reported on a number of tragic deaths related to the use of, mainly, fake fentanyl pills
The local man had a prior drug trafficking conviction. This case is his wake up call after he was found driving on Interstate 5 in Southern Oregon with more than ten pounds of methamphetamine, nearly three pounds of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, and two firearms.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) task force, Grants Pass Police Department, and Oregon State Police. It was prosecuted by Marco Boccato, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Back in March 6, 2021, law enforcement got a tip that Lawson was traveling from Southern California to Josephine County, Oregon with a large quantity of drugs. And, one the very next day, there he was. Law enforcement spotted him and got him driving northbound on Interstate 5 near Grants Pass, Oregon and conducted a traffic stop.
A search was made inside Lawson’s vehicle. The tip was correct, officers located a large tool case containing approximately ten pounds of methamphetamine, 700 grams of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, body armor, and a revolver. Jackpot! But, wait, officers located an additional 480 grams of fentanyl pills, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and a second firearm elsewhere in the vehicle.
