A Eugene man, David Toedtemeier, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison on charges of trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine. This 34-year-old was also given three years of supervised release as part of his sentence, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on January 24, 2022, when Toedtemeier was pulled over by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team during a drug trafficking investigation. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon, Toedtemeier had his wife and infant child in the vehicle at the time. A search revealed a safe beneath the infant's car seat containing fentanyl pills, heroin, methamphetamine, and a firearm. The trunk held more fentanyl, methamphetamine, a digital scale, Narcan nasal spray, and multiple cell phones.
Further searches conducted the same day at Toedtemeier’s residence turned up additional quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and another firearm. Toedtemeier admitted to possessing the narcotics and firearms, and he intended to sell the drugs within the state. His guilty plea to one count each of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine was entered on March 6, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The CODE team's operations and the investigation were supported by the Drug Enforcement Agency and led to Toedtemeier's prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam E. Delph. The multi-jurisdictional nature of the CODE team brings together various levels of law enforcement to combat large-scale drug trafficking operations. Fentanyl, known to be significantly more potent than both morphine and heroin, has been linked to a sharp rise in overdose deaths in Oregon, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
For those facing immediate danger, the call to action is clear: dial 911. Resources for individuals struggling with substance abuse are available, including the Lines for Life helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or their website, which offers phone support 24/7. Individuals can also text "RecoveryNow" to 839863 during the hours of 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time for assistance, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
