A Gresham, Oregon man has been charged with federal crimes this week for using Telegram to sell party drugs to minors.
According to a release, Timothy Jeffrey Monahan, who is 31 years old, has been charged with “possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime” through a criminal complaint.
Natalie Wight, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, expressed concern about the detrimental effects of drug trafficking on children in our communities. She acknowledged the efforts of the FBI, Clackamas County Interagency Task Force, and other law enforcement agencies in persistently pursuing those who target children, and also appreciated their efforts in holding such individuals accountable for their actions.
Law enforcement officials were given a tip earlier this year that Monahan had been using Telegram to unlawfully promote the sale of various drugs. These drugs include cocaine, LSD, ketamine, DMT, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, and vaping products.
On June 7, 2024, law enforcement conducted a federal search warrant on Monahan’s residence and vehicle. The search yielded a range of illicit items, including varying quantities of cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms, two loaded firearms, drug packaging materials, scales, and a sum of over $106,000 in cash, all of which were subsequently seized.
Appearing in a federal court on June 10th, Monahan was ordered to be detained by a U.S. Magistrate Judge and awaits further court proceedings.
The District of Oregon’s Assistant U.S. Attorney, Scott M. Kerin, is currently prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF).
According to the release, a criminal complaint merely indicates an accusation of a crime, and the defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty.
According to a recent release, the CCITF is spearheaded by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. Its primary goal is to thwart and dismantle drug trafficking groups that are active in and around Clackamas County. Additionally, the task force aims to curb illegal drug-related activities within the community.
As per the release, the CCITF comprises of representatives from a number of organizations, namely the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Canby Police Department, Oregon State Police, FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program also extends its support to CCITF.
According to a recent release, the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is a grant program sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), which aims to counter drug-related activities by providing funding resources and coordinating with multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.
In response to the negative consequences of the 2020 voter-approved Measure 110 that decriminalized drug possession, Oregon lawmakers have recriminalized it this spring.
After the law was passed, the number of drug overdose deaths related to fentanyl increased by more than two-fold in Oregon.