Three Men Sentenced for Fentanyl Distribution Leading to Medford Teen’s Death

Medford, Oregon- Three men from Oregon were sentenced to federal prison on Thursday for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of a 17-year-old Medford high school student in 2021.

Hunter Fenstermaker, 23, of Medford, received a sentence of 60 months in federal prison followed by six years of supervised release. Napoleon Gomez, 22, also from Medford, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison with six years of supervised release. Conner Lee Francis, 27, from Portland, was sentenced to 73 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. All three men were ordered to pay restitution to the victim’s family.

The case began on September 7, 2021, when Medford Police officers responded to a call reporting the overdose death of a local teenager. Investigators determined that the 17-year-old had ingested a counterfeit Percocet pill laced with fentanyl. Fenstermaker, Gomez, and Francis were later identified as the first-, second-, and third-level drug suppliers responsible for distributing the fatal substance.

On February 3, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Fenstermaker and Gomez for distributing fentanyl. Francis was charged with possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Fenstermaker and Gomez pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl to a minor in separate hearings on April 9 and June 17, 2024, respectively. Francis pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute on June 24, 2024.

Earlier in the case, John Rocha, 31, of Medford, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison on May 14, 2024. Rocha, identified as the fourth-level supplier, played a role in providing the drugs that led to the teenager’s death.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Medford Police Department, and the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement Team (MADGE). It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marco A. Boccato from the District of Oregon.

MADGE is a specialized task force focused on targeting drug trafficking organizations at various levels. It is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, which is funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and works with law enforcement agencies to combat drug-related crimes.

This case underscores ongoing efforts by local and federal agencies to combat the spread of fentanyl and reduce the impact of opioid-related deaths in Oregon.