FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 29, 2024
Issued by: Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp
Prineville, OR –
Drug agents successfully apprehended a Prineville man following an extensive investigation into the trafficking of methamphetamine and fentanyl within the Crook County area. The culmination of this investigation, conducted by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, ended when drug agents made an arrest and executed a search warrant at a residence situated on the 11700 block of SE Davis Loop, in an unincorporated area of Crook County known as Juniper Canyon.
On March 28th, 2024, the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, with the assistance of the Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Prineville Police Department, Oregon State Police and the Redmond Police Street Crimes Unit, concluded an on-going investigation and surveillance operation with the arrest of Charles D McQuage, 60, of Prineville, Oregon.
In late 2023, drug agents identified Charles McQuage as a central Oregon methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficker. The preliminary investigation alleges that Mr. McQuage has been involved in the substantial distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl in and around the Prineville and Crook County areas.
Following a long-term surveillance operation, CODE Detectives detained McQuage during a traffic stop at MP1 on Juniper Canyon Rd. The roadway was briefly closed while Crook County Sheriff’s Deputies and Prineville Police Officers conducted a high-risk stop. He was detained without incident and the roadway was immediately reopened.
Based on the investigation, CODE Detectives secured a search warrant for Mr. McQuage’s 2009 Infinity FX35 and his residence on SE Davis Loop.
During a subsequent search of Charles McQuage’s Infinity and home, drug agents seized a commercial quantity of methamphetamine, fentanyl (in both powder and pill form), a 9mm pistol and a 9mm AR-style pistol, a butane honey oil extraction lab, significant amount of US currency, butane, along with additional evidence confirming his involvement in controlled substance distribution crimes.
Mr. McQuage has been confined to the Crook County Sheriff’s Jail on the following charges:
- Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine
- Unlawful Manufacture of Methamphetamine
- Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine
- Unlawful Distribution of Fentanyl
- Unlawful Manufacture of Fentanyl
- Unlawful Possession of Fentanyl
- Commercial Drug Offense (Enhancement)
- Felon in Possession of a Weapon (Firearm)
- Unlawful Manufacture of a Marijuana Item (BHO Lab)
Kari Hathorn, Crook County District Attorney responded, “I congratulate the CODE team on their efforts here in Crook County. In the face of the devastating impact that fentanyl is having on our community, the Prineville area alone witnessed four overdose emergencies that led to two tragic deaths this week alone. It is imperative for law enforcement to intensify our efforts against this deadly crisis has never been more critical.
We must unite in our resolve, leveraging every resource at our disposal to combat this epidemic, safeguarding not just the present but the future of our community. Let the losses we've endured fuel our commitment to ensuring that such tragedies are not repeated but serve as a catalyst for change. The fight against fentanyl is not just about law enforcement; it's about preserving the very fabric of our society."
It is important to note that criminal complaints only outline charges, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp, 541-550-4869 or kentv@deschutes.org
The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and the following Central Oregon law enforcement agencies: Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Redmond Police Department, Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Madras Police Department, Oregon State Police, Sunriver Police Department, Black Butte Police Department, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Warm Springs Tribal Police Department, Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County District Attorney’s, and the Oregon National Guard.
The CODE team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency, prosecutor-supported approach. CODE is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), which is composed of members from the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the CODE.
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