Portland gang leader sentenced to prison after 104 pounds of meth found in car

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The leader of Portland’s "18th Street Gang" was sentenced to federal prison on Tuesday for his role in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, meth and cocaine into the metro area, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced.

Officials said 38-year-old Gustavo Torres-Mendez of Portland was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison with five years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, Torres-Mendez became the leader of the gang after his release from state prison in 2019 for first-degree robbery with a firearm.

Investigators were aware he “maintained a significant stature” with the gang while serving time in Oregon state prisons and during his time out of custody.

In late summer 2022, investigators had evidence that Torres-Mendez and a close associate were leading a criminal enterprise selling counterfeit Oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, meth, and cocaine in the Portland metro area, authorities said.

In September, investigators discovered Torres-Mendez and several associates collected over $126,000 in cash within days to buy drugs.

Around that time, authorities stopped a vehicle connected to the group driving near Grants Pass and found more than 104 pounds of meth and eight pounds of cocaine inside, officials said.

A federal grand jury in Portland returned a seven-count indictment on Nov. 15, 2022, charging Torres-Mendez and six associates for conspiring with one another to distribute fentanyl, meth, and cocaine.

Two days later, authorities searched Torres-Mendez’s North Portland home, where they found a handgun, ammunition, tactical body armor, a small bag of “M30” fake Oxycodone pills, and more than $6,000 in cash.

That same day, investigators seized 10 more guns at another location in Portland used by the gang to store drugs and weapons.

On Sept. 6, 2023, Torres-Mendez pleaded guilty to conspiring with his associates to distribute fentanyl, meth, and cocaine. Three of his co-conspirators have also pleaded guilty and sentenced to federal prison.