Date: October 2nd, 2018
Date and Time of Incident: September 6th, 2018 at 1150 hours
Type of Incident: Search warrant/ Illegal marijuana grow
Location of Incident: 21563 Back Alley Bend, Or.
Suspect(s):
#1: Andrew A. Ledford 34 year old Bend resident
#2: Jennifer M. Jones 40 year old Bend resident
Narrative:
Since July, 2018, the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement team has been assisted by a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office proactive marijuana enforcement detective. The focus is on the illegal manufacture, processing, sale and exportation of marijuana while also conducting compliance checks regarding the manufacture, possession and sale of marijuana. The position is fully funded by the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners.
On Thursday, September 6th, 2018, The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office proactive marijuana enforcement detective and detectives from the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement team and the Central Oregon Emergency Response team served a search warrant at 21563 Back Alley Rd in Bend, Oregon. This investigation started with information of a potential out of compliance grow site at 21563 Back Alley, which was investigated by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office proactive marijuana enforcement detective and members of the CODE team.
Initial stages of the investigation revealed an active outdoor marijuana grow which showed no authorization by any state agency to grow marijuana. With this information, Detectives applied for and received a search warrant for the location.
During the execution of the search warrant, 93 mature marijuana plants and 55 immature plants were seized. 5.8 lbs of dried marijuana was seized as well as 4.76 lbs of BHO (Butane Honey Oil) product. Two BHO labs were seized (utilized for processing Butane Honey Oil) and approximately 50 lbs. of marijuana shake were destroyed (Shake is the leaves and stems of the marijuana plant which contains THC and is utilized in BHO labs to produce Butane Honey Oil).
CODE Detectives arrested Andrew Ledford and Jennifer Jones at the scene, both were transported to the Deschutes County Sherriff’s Office Adult Jail where they were lodged for the listed crimes.
Evidence at the scene indicated marijuana products were being illegally exported out of state. With the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), a recent shipment sent from the Back Alley address to the East Coast was intercepted. As a result, a large quantity of marijuana products was discovered hidden within the shipped packaging, which consisted of large wooden decorative wall art with a removable back panel that hid the marijuana products (Photographs are attached). Besides packaged marijuana, a substantial amount of Vaping inserts containing THC were seized. This investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected.
Sheriff L. Shane Nelson said, “I am thrilled with the initial success of the proactive marijuana enforcement detective, only being in place since July. This case is a perfect example of the need for this position and a proactive approach to the enforcement of illegal marijuana grows in Deschutes County.”
Charge(s):
Andrew Ledford:
Manufacture of controlled substance, marijuana, any extract
Manufacture of controlled substance, marijuana, excess of 12 plants
Distribution of controlled substance, marijuana, 16 times personal allowance
Possession of controlled substance, marijuana, 16 times at household
Unlawful import/ export of marijuana, 16 times personal allowance
Jennifer Jones:
Manufacture of controlled substance, marijuana, any extract
Manufacture of controlled substance, marijuana, excess of 12 plants
Distribution of controlled substance, marijuana, 16 times personal allowance
Possession of controlled substance, marijuana, 16 times at household
Direct assistance to this investigation was given by the DEA, Deschutes County Sheriff’s office, Deschutes County Public Works and the Central Oregon Emergency Response team and the Bend Police Department.
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: Oregon State Police, 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, 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 Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement task forces to disrupt or dismantle local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations