Officials have seized nearly 2 dozen vehicles, $80,000

The largest drug case in Benton County history has led to the biggest forfeiture of cash and property.

Almost two dozen vehicles and more than $80,000 seized in the "Ice Breaker" drug investigation is now being forfeited and turned over to state and local government.

"In the reconciled cases, this is the largest-scale case of its kind, both in terms of drugs and forfeiture," Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson said.

Investigators said they uncovered a drug trafficking ring responsible for distributing between six and 10 pounds of methamphetamine each week along with other drugs in the mid-valley, following a March 14 search of about 20 homes and businesses.

Twenty people have been charged in connection with the case. Fourteen of them already have been convicted of charges ranging from perjury and money laundering to racketeering and delivery of methamphetamine and cocaine.

The longest prison term for a single drug crime in Oregon history - 18 years - went to "Ice Breaker" defendant Isidro Linares, 28, of Albany. He had pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and agreed to forfeit property and cash and to be deported upon completion of his sentence.

The vehicles Linares surrendered were a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado, a 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe, a 1994 Honda Civic, a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, a 1998 Acura CL and a 2001 Lincoln LS.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Stringer said officials chose not to accept forfeiture of several vehicles because defendants owed more than the vehicles were worth. Linares forfeited more than $22,700 in cash and four bank or credit union accounts with balances totaling more than $5,800.

Another defendant in the case, Manuel Lujano Salgado, 40, of Creswell, was handed a 12-year sentence for racketeering. He agreed to give up 12 vehicles, more than $32,000 in cash and gold jewelry.

Several other defendants have given up a single vehicle and cash.

In Oregon, forfeitures must usually be part of the sentencing in a criminal trial. In this case, Stringer said, they were part of a plea agreement.

"The police don't get much of the property," Stringer said. "The seizing agency is only entitled to 30 to 40 percent. We didn't do this just to recoup the cost of the investigation. We did it to cripple this organization."

Stringer said the main concern was that the money and cars would fall into the hands of friends of the defendants who would take their place in the drug pipeline.