International Fugitive for 15 Years Caught by FBI and Sentenced for 1997 Methamphetamine Offense

EUGENE, Ore. –Joseph Floyde DeArmond, 51, previously of Medford, Oregon, was sentenced today by U.S. District Chief Judge Ann Aiken to 36  months in federal prison for an offense he committed in 1997 – possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Upon his release from prison, DeArmond will be on supervised release for three years.

On June 9, 1997, law enforcement seized a distributable amount of methamphetamine from defendant’s Medford, Oregon home.  After being federally charged, DeArmond pled guilty and was scheduled to be sentenced on June 30, 1998.  Rather than appear for sentencing, DeArmond fled the United States to Costa Rica.  The FBI’s fugitive hunt lasted from 1998 until 2013, when DeArmond was located in Costa Rica living under an assumed name.  After positively identifying him as Joseph DeArmond, the FBI worked with the Costa Rican government to arrange for his return to the United States.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Lichvarcik prosecuted this case.