Salem man gets 9 years in prison after 20K fentanyl pills, 28 pounds of meth found at home

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A Salem man was sentenced to nine years in prison for drug trafficking charges related to an investigation that began back in 2021.

Rico Anthony Russell Rigutto was sentenced after investigators discovered thousands of fentanyl pills, dozens of pounds of methamphetamines and other drugs in his possession, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

It all began on December 14, 2021, when investigators arranged to buy counterfeit oxycodone pills from Rigutto as part of a drug trafficking sting, court documents say.

“Investigators observed him arrive and depart the meeting location, after which they conducted a traffic stop on Rigutto,” the U.S. DOJ said.

During a search of Rigutto’s car, investigators found and took possession of about 3,000 counterfeit pills with fentanyl in them and a gun with a conversion switch attachment to convert it from a semi-automatic to a fully automatic weapon.

Investigators later searched Rigutto’s home using a search warrant they obtained and seized 20,000 additional counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, 28 pounds of meth, six pounds of heroin and $100,000 in cash. They also found and took possession of 15 guns, including an AR-15 rifle and another handgun with a conversion switch.

A grand jury in Portland indicted Rigutto on drug and gun possession charges in 2022. In 2023, he pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute but subsequently failed to appear in court for his sentencing less than a year later.

The U.S. Marshals Service found and arrested Rigutto for failing to appear after a warrant was issued for his arrest. They also found another gun during the arrest.

In addition to Rigutto’s nine years in prison, he was sentenced to five years of supervised release.