A Honduran national living illegally in Gresham has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for distributing fentanyl in and around Portland.
Arrest Took Place in a Controlled Buy
According to court documents, Borys Rafael Almendarez-Chapas (45) was detained on December 4, 2024, after detectives executed a controlled buy of fentanyl from him in Portland.
When arrested, Almendarez-Chapas was found with fentanyl powder and counterfeit opioid pills.
According to the United States Attorney’s Oregon District Office, the Honduran told investigators that he planned to sell two ounces of fentanyl powder and 500 pills during the transaction. He told investigators that there were firearms at his home, where authorities later seized three weapons.
On December 17, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted Almendarez-Chapas on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a handgun for use in a narcotics trafficking offense, and alien possession of a firearm.
On January 30, 2025, he pled guilty to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute. When he appeared in court on Monday, he was sentenced to 45 months in prison with three years of supervised release.
The FBI and Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF) investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Scott Kerin, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl can be fatal to an average adult. Fentanyl is widely available in Oregon, and it is responsible for a significant spike in overdose deaths across the state.
If you are in urgent danger, call 911. If you or someone you know is addicted, contact the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone help is available 24/7. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2 and 6 p.m. Pacific Time every day.