As a result of an investigation that began in 2021, a guy from Salem was found guilty of selling cocaine and was sentenced to nine years in prison for his crime.
Following the discovery of thousands of fentanyl tablets, dozens of pounds of methamphetamines, and other drugs in Rico Anthony Russell Rigutto’s possession, the United States Department of Justice asserted that he was punished according to the findings of the investigation.
It all began on December 14, 2021, when investigators planned to purchase fake oxycodone tablets from Rigutto as part of a narcotics trafficking sting operation, according to the documents that were filed in court.
The Department of Justice of the United States of America reports that investigators “observed him arrive and depart the meeting location, and after that, they conducted a traffic stop on Rigutto.”
During a search of Rigutto’s vehicle, investigators found and seized approximately three thousand fake fentanyl tablets as well as a firearm that had a conversion switch attachment that allowed it to be converted from a semi-automatic weapon to a fully automatic weapon.
Following the acquisition of a search warrant, the detectives conducted a subsequent investigation at Rigutto’s residence, where they discovered a total of 20,000 phoney pills containing fentanyl, 28 pounds of methamphetamine, six pounds of heroin, and $100,000 in cash.
In addition, fifteen firearms, that included an AR-15 rifle and another handgun that had a conversion switch, were found and taken into custody.
In 2022, a grand jury in Portland brought charges against Rigutto, accusing him of possessing prohibited substances as well as firearms.
It was in 2023 when he entered a guilty plea to the charge of carrying fentanyl with the intent to distribute; however, he did not appear for his sentence, which was scheduled to take place six months later.
Following the issuance of a warrant for Rigutto’s arrest, the United States Marshals Service was able to find him and immediately placed him under arrest for his failure to appear. In addition, they found another firearm when they were making the arrest there.
In addition to serving nine years in prison, Rigutto was punished with a sentence that included five years of supervised release.
