Honduran National Unlawfully Residing in Oregon Faces Federal Charges for Role in Portland Overdose Death

PORTLAND, Ore.—Hugo Gomez-Soto, 50, a Honduran national unlawfully residing in Portland, made his first appearance in federal court today after being charged for distributing fentanyl that was linked to the fatal overdose of a Portland man.

According to court documents, in January 2024, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Narcotics and Organized Crime (NOC) Unit began investigating a suspected fentanyl overdose of an adult male victim in Southwest Portland. Investigators identified Gomez-Soto as the individual who allegedly sold fentanyl to the victim and, on January 25, 2024, he was arrested on state charges. At the time of his arrest, Gomez-Soto was in possession of both fentanyl powder and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.

On June 18, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Gomez-Soto with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Gomez-Soto made his initial appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a four-day jury trial scheduled to begin on September 9, 2025.

If convicted, Gomez-Soto faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and PPB’s NOC Unit. It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.