MEDFORD, Ore. (Oct. 5, 2026) — A 60-year-old Medford man pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges involving the distribution of fentanyl and admitted the drug he supplied was responsible for two people’s deaths, federal prosecutors said.
Richard Scott Samuels pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Court documents state that deaths were reported May 15 and Aug. 6, 2025. Both deaths were determined to have resulted from fentanyl overdoses. During the investigation, law enforcement identified Samuels as the alleged supplier of the fentanyl used by both people who died.
Authorities arrested Samuels on Sept. 4, 2025. During the arrest and a search of his person and residence, investigators seized a cellphone, $5,332 in cash, a handgun and multiple types of drugs, including approximately 283 grams of fentanyl, 92 grams of heroin, 5 grams of methamphetamine and 5 grams of cocaine.
A federal grand jury in Medford indicted Samuels on Nov. 6, 2025, charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Under the charge to which he pleaded guilty, Samuels faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $5 million and four years of supervised release.
Samuels is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 17, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
As part of his plea agreement, Samuels has agreed to forfeit criminally derived proceeds and property used to facilitate his crimes that are identified by the government before sentencing.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Shaw is prosecuting the case.
Discover more from Medford Alert News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
