MEDFORD, OR — Joel Matthew Caswell, a Jacksonville contractor already federally indicted for pandemic relief fraud, has now been arrested in connection to two drive-by shootings in northeast Medford, police announced Wednesday.
Caswell, 31, was taken into custody following a month-long investigation into the shootings, which occurred on July 26 and 27. While no injuries were reported, the Medford Police Department said Caswell now faces six charges:
2 counts of unlawful use of a weapon
2 counts of recklessly endangering another person
2 counts of first-degree criminal mischief
Caswell is being held at the Jackson County Jail without bail.
Connected by Evidence and Surveillance
Authorities released images in late July of a blue Dodge pickup truck believed to have been used in both incidents. According to police, multiple pieces of evidence, including surveillance footage and a personal connection to one of the victims, helped investigators tie Caswell to the crimes.
Caswell’s federal pre-trial release conditions were still in effect at the time of his arrest. He had been indicted by the FBI in April 2025 on multiple fraud-related charges.
Federal Fraud Background
In the federal case, Caswell faces charges including:
4 counts of wire fraud
3 counts of tax evasion
1 count of aggravated identity theft
15 counts of failure to collect or pay employment tax
The indictment alleges that between 2018 and 2022, Caswell fraudulently obtained federal relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL)—both created to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authorities say he used these funds for personal and business ventures, including:
A failed Ultimate Frisbee team, the Portland Nitro
An $8,000-per-day event rental at Providence Park in Portland
Operations under Siskiyou Cascade Industries and Pearl Sport Group LLC
Court documents also show millions in unpaid civil judgments tied to Caswell and his network of over 20 business entities, some dating back to South Bay Logging, registered when he was just 19.
Other Legal Troubles
Caswell was previously arrested in November 2023 on charges of unlawful manufacture and possession of marijuana, though that case was later dismissed.
He is still scheduled for a federal jury trial on Nov. 17, 2025, at the federal courthouse in Eugene, Oregon.
Medford police stated they are now coordinating with federal investigators in light of these new charges.
