BEND, OREGON – Ricky Fontaine, 32, of Bend, Oregon, was sentenced on April 9 to more than 11 years in federal prison for his role in a large-scale fentanyl trafficking operation. The sentence was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, following a multi-agency investigation into fentanyl distribution across Central Oregon.
Fontaine was arrested on April 1, 2023, when detectives from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit stopped his vehicle after receiving intelligence about his active fentanyl distribution. Fontaine, who had an active felony warrant, attempted to flee the scene on foot but was quickly apprehended by authorities.
A search of his vehicle revealed over 1,000 grams of fentanyl, a .22 caliber handgun, drug packaging materials, and photographs of Fontaine posing with large quantities of fentanyl pills. Further investigation at his residence uncovered additional fentanyl, scales, and packaging supplies.
Fontaine was charged on January 18, 2024, with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and illegal possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. He pleaded guilty to the drug charge on December 4, 2024.
In addition to his prison sentence, Fontaine will serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term.
The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, with support from the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team and the Redmond Police Department. The ongoing fentanyl crisis continues to impact Oregon, with the synthetic opioid being a leading cause of overdose deaths in the state.
