REDMOND, OR -- The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit conducted a short term investigation into 37-year-old Levi Towry for the sales of fentanyl pills imported from Portland and later distributed in in Deschutes County. On July 27, Street Crimes detectives learned Towry was traveling from Portland to Redmond with fentanyl pills. 

Detectives observed a vehicle Towry was a passenger in pull into the parking lot of the Village Squire Motel in Redmond. Detectives contacted Towry while he was seated in the vehicle and he was immediately detained on an unrelated burglary case from Bend. A subsequent search warrant of Towry’s body revealed a commercial quantity of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.

A “a commercial quantity” is defined by statute as five grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, or any substituted derivative of fentanyl as defined by the rules of the Oregon Board of Pharmacy. This is not a separate criminal charge, rather an increase in the sentencing guidelines. 

The greater Portland area is a major transshipment hub where illegal drugs coming from the southwest border are stored in local warehouses, storage units, and residential properties. The bulk shipments of drugs are usually broken down into smaller quantities and transported to other states or distributed to local dealers. The Portland area has an international airport, interstate highways, and bus and train lines that make it easy for shipments to be smuggled to other destinations around the Pacific Northwest.

Towry was transported to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Jail. Due to medical reasons Towry was then transported to St. Charles, Bend ER. He was cited and released at St. Charles.

Street Crimes Detectives were assisted by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team. 

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office street crimes unit focuses enforcement on street level drug cases and quality of life issues connected to property crimes throughout Deschutes County.