Washington County Drug Dealer Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison

PORTLAND, Ore. –Eric Allen Forsyth, 37, of Tigard, Oregon, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon on Thursday, August 27, 2015,  to 12 years in federal prison following his federal conviction for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.  When the defendant is released from prison, he will serve five years of supervised release.

In February 2014, Beaverton Police Officers received information that the defendant was selling methamphetamine.  As part of the investigation, on April 14, 2014, deputies with the Westside Interagency Narcotics (WIN) Team conducted a traffic stop on a car in which the defendant was a passenger and arrested him on an outstanding warrant.  When the defendant was searched, officers found him carrying $8,801 in cash and 55.5 grams of methamphetamine.  A search warrant was later executed on the defendant’s residence and officers seized approximately 549 grams of methamphetamine packaged in 14 individual bags.  According to police reports, following his arrest, the defendant admitted that he sold approximately one to two pounds of methamphetamine every day “for the money.”

In imposing the sentence Judge Simon noted that this was a “very serious offense” and that, based upon his prior criminal history, the defendant qualified as a Career Offender under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.  The defendant has three state court convictions for the Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

"Methamphetamine has been identified as the region’s most serious drug threat,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Billy Williams. “I applaud the work done by our local law enforcement partners on this case and we will continue to work with them to hold these drug dealers accountable for their actions.”

According to the Oregon High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program:

Methamphetamine in the form of crystal methamphetamine, or “ice,” continues to be readily available and widely used throughout the Oregon HIDTA and represents the region’s most serious drug threat.  Methamphetamine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant that is abused for its euphoric and stimulant effects.  Chronic methamphetamine abusers exhibit violent behavior, confusion, insomnia and psychotic characteristics such as hallucinations and paranoia.  Methamphetamine-related crime, such as identity theft, abused and neglected children, and other serious person and property crimes, continues to occur at a palpable rate and is prevalent throughout the HIDTA region.

Oregon and Idaho law enforcement officers surveyed in 2015 indicated methamphetamine remains a significant threat due to its level of use and availability; nexus to other crimes such as violent activity and property crime; societal impact; and connection to drug trafficking organizations, primarily MNDTOs [multi-national drug trafficking organizations].  Of law enforcement agencies surveyed, 62 percent reported methamphetamine as the greatest Oregon HIDTA Program drug threat to their area, with the majority indicating methamphetamine as the drug that contributes most to violent crime (88%) and property crime (69%).  Furthermore, over 60 percent of officers ranked methamphetamine as the drug that serves as the primary funding source for major criminal activity.

Threat Assessment and Counter-Drug Strategy, Program Year 2016, Oregon HIDTA Program, at 12-13 (June 2015).

This case was investigated by the Westside Interagency Narcotics (WIN) Team and the Beaverton Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Scott Kerin.