Texas Duo Who Posed as DEA Agents During Oregon Marijuana Raid Sentenced to Prison
MEDFORD, Ore. — Two men from Texas, in their early twenties, have been sentenced to federal prison for posing as Drug Enforcement Administration agents during an armed robbery in Oregon, involving the attempted theft of more than 200 pounds of marijuana.
Juan Jose Manuel Lopez (24) received a sentence of five years and three months behind bars, followed by four years of supervised release. His accomplice, 23-year-old Carlos Conchas, was given a three-year, four-month prison term, also with four years of supervision after release. Both men were ordered to pay restitution to the victims.
Their convictions relate to an incident on March 12, 2022, when deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of an armed robbery in progress at a rural address.
On their arrival, JCSO deputies saw several people running toward the back of the property. There were two unoccupied vehicles with Texas license plates in the driveway, with doors gaping open. The driveway gate was closed.
The Bogus DEA Agents Restrained the Victims With Duct Tape and Zip Ties
The deputies were told by the victims inside the house that they had been attacked by armed individuals dressed in what appeared to be DEA uniforms. Their assailants were wearing body armor. The ‘agents’ used duct tape and zip ties to restrain the victims.
A search of the property revealed large plastic tote bags containing packaged marijuana. The deputies also found firearms, ammunition, shell casings, body armor, and badges resembling those worn by DEA agents.
Investigators recovered photographs of the armed robbers in which they posed with firearms while dressed as DEA agents.
After their indictment, both Lopez and Conchas pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute. Additionally, four co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and been sentenced on felony charges related to their roles in the conspiracy.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). They were assisted by JCSO and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The prosecutor was Judith R. Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.