A Southwest Portland drug case that began with a late-night overdose in a backyard shed has ended in a federal conviction. A jury found Hugo Gomez-Soto guilty of distributing fentanyl that led to the death of 29-year-old Jordan Feinstein-Smith, and of possessing fentanyl during a later arrest. The verdict came after a six-day trial and roughly 90 minutes of deliberation. Gomez-Soto is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2026.
Federal Jury Returns Guilty Verdict
Jurors convicted Gomez-Soto of distributing fentanyl that resulted in death and of a separate count tied to fentanyl possession that followed his initial arrest, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. The case was tried before U.S. District Judge Amy Baggio, with a 12-member jury that deliberated for about an hour and a half before returning its decision. Prosecutors argued that toxicology results and eyewitness testimony connected the counterfeit pills to Feinstein-Smith’s fatal overdose.
Undercover Buy Led To Arrest
After the overdose, Portland police posed as Feinstein-Smith and set up a controlled buy on January 25, 2024, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office said. When Gomez-Soto arrived at the arranged meeting spot in a Ford Fusion, officers moved in and arrested him. Investigators recovered a bag of blue counterfeit oxycodone pills and two bags of fentanyl powder that they said were consistent with what had been found on the victim. Once advised of his rights, Gomez-Soto allegedly told investigators he typically sold fentanyl pills and powder to Feinstein-Smith at night.
Victim, Toxicology And Autopsy Notes
Feinstein-Smith was discovered unresponsive in a backyard shed on December 30, 2023, and was later pronounced dead at OHSU, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. His mother, Randi Feinstein-Smith, tried to revive him and administered four doses of Narcan. Prosecutors told jurors that toxicology testing showed about 100 nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl in his blood. The reporting also noted that the Multnomah County medical examiner’s office had largely stopped performing autopsies in suspected overdose cases in 2023, and that defense counsel criticized investigators in court for what they called “tunnel vision and investigative shortcomings.”
Legal Implications And What Comes Next
Federal prosecutors charged the case using a statutory enhancement for drug distribution resulting in death, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life, under federal law and related U.S. Attorney press releases. The enhancement is rooted in 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C), which the Department of Justice has relied on in other cases to seek the 20-year minimum when a death is tied to the drugs sold. At Gomez-Soto’s July 10 sentencing, the court will decide whether to apply that enhancement and what prison term he will ultimately serve.
Portland’s Wider Fentanyl Crisis
The conviction arrives against the backdrop of a sustained spike in fentanyl-related fatalities across Multnomah County, where recent public-health data and reporting indicate the synthetic opioid is involved in the majority of overdose deaths. Local officials have leaned on tougher federal prosecutions alongside prevention, harm reduction, and treatment strategies as part of their response, according to regional data and reporting compiled by the AP. Families who have lost loved ones and advocates in the addiction and recovery space say prosecutions matter, but that broader public-health and policy approaches remain crucial if the city hopes to prevent future tragedies.
