Career Offender Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison
17 pounds of meth and handguns seized
PORTLAND, Ore. - Todd Alan Nelson, 51, of Salem, Oregon, was sentenced on July 12, 2016, to a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, followed by a consecutive five-year mandatory minimum sentence for possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug offense, for a total of 15 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones also ordered Nelson to serve 10 years of supervised release when released from custody.
In October 2014, Drug Enforcement (DEA) agents and detectives with the Salem Police Department identified Nelson as a source of supply for methamphetamine. In December 2014, agents obtained search warrants to search Nelson’s car, house and a storage locker located in Keizer, Oregon. Nelson’s car contained over 1,981 grams of methamphetamine, scales, $9,700 in cash, and a 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number. Inside Nelson’s home they found more methamphetamine, packaging materials, a stolen 9mm Sig Sauer P225, and scales. In the storage locker, agents seized several additional pounds of methamphetamine, packaging materials and a loaded 9mm Czech 75d handgun. In all, agents seized approximately 17 pounds of methamphetamine and three handguns.
Nelson meets the criteria for a career offender under the United States Sentencing Guidelines because he committed new drug trafficking and violent offenses and has two prior drug delivery convictions from 2003 and 2006. At the time of his arrest for the current offense, he was being supervised by the Marion County Circuit Court due to a prior conviction.
The investigation of the case was led by the DEA, through its Salem DEA Drug Task Force, and the Salem Police Department.
