Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today announced that a grand jury indicted Hugo Gomez-Soto, 48, on ten charges relating to the unlawful delivery of fentanyl and the subsequent death of a 29-year-old man to whom Gomez-Soto had sold fentanyl:
- One count of Criminally Negligent Homicide
- Four counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance within 1,000 Feet of a School
- One count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Commercial Drug Offense)
- Three counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance
- One count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Substantial Quantity)
On December 30, 2023, the 29-year-old male victim was found unconscious by a family member inside his residence. After the family member administered multiple doses of Narcan and performed life-saving measures, and after AMR administered multiple doses of Narcan and performed life-saving measures, the victim was transported to OHSU where he was later pronounced deceased. Medical staff indicated that fentanyl was found in his system, and pills and powder containing fentanyl were found on his person. Police officers determined, through review of cell phone records, that the victim was purchasing fentanyl from a presumed dealer whose phone number was matched to Hugo Gomez-Soto.
Investigators from the Portland Police Bureau’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit posed as the victim and arranged to meet Gomez-Soto, via text message using the victim’s phone, to purchase pills and powdered fentanyl. Gomez-Soto agreed to the deal, and it was clear that he was familiar with the victim’s phone number and knew the address of where to meet to deliver the drugs. Officers met Gomez-Soto at the location and found him with 20 pills and two 1-gram baggies on his person, which presumptively tested positive for fentanyl and were similar to the pills and powder found on the victim’s person.
After Gomez-Soto was mirandized, he admitted to selling fentanyl to the victim and stated they would meet near the victim’s house for their transactions. He stated he is the only person that uses the phone and phone number that was used to arrange the deal. He further stated that he knows fentanyl is dangerous and causes people to die.
Upon review of the evidence provided by law enforcement, Senior Deputy DA Ujifusa presented the case to the Grand Jury, which returned a true bill of indictment on February 1.
Due to the seriousness of these crimes and the risk that Gomez-Soto poses to public safety, Senior DDA Ujifusa filed a motion seeking preventive detention (a means of denying any form of release during pendency of the case for those who pose a risk to public safety). At a hearing on February 1, Judge Chanpone Sinlapasai found in favor of the state and ordered Gomez-Soto to be preventatively detained.
A charging instrument is only an accusation of a crime. Gomez-Soto is innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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