Levi Joseph Blomdahl, a 38-year-old resident of Vancouver, Washington, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison and five years of supervised release. Blomdahl was found guilty of distributing fentanyl and aiding and abetting the armed robbery of a 14-year-old. This verdict highlights the severity of his crimes and the impact they had on the community.
According to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon’s office, the investigation conducted by Homeland Security into fentanyl trafficking in the Portland area revealed that Blomdahl was involved in the distribution of fentanyl in 2021.
In September 2021, Blomdahl found himself in a dangerous situation when he became the target of a drug-related robbery and shooting on Hayden Island in Portland, Oregon. In a brave attempt to protect himself, he engaged in a shootout with the robber, but unfortunately, he sustained injuries in the process.
Anthony Pastorino, a 44-year-old resident of Vancouver, managed to flee the scene before the arrival of the police. Following the incident, Blomdahl was promptly transported to a nearby hospital, where he received the necessary medical attention.
Starting in January 2021, Blomdahl embarked on multiple trips from Portland to Phoenix, Arizona, where he purchased fentanyl. He then proceeded to sell this illicit substance in the Pacific Northwest. A law enforcement investigation uncovered these activities.
In November 2021, HSI special agents carried out a search warrant at Blomdahl’s residence, where they discovered approximately 600 grams of fentanyl, as well as two firearms, ammunition, and various other controlled substances.
During the investigation, HSI also discovered that Blomdahl had played a role in an armed robbery targeting a 14-year-old boy in Vancouver.
According to the statement, Blomdahl was in close contact with another person who posed as a police officer and stole a motorcycle that the 14-year-old was selling online.
During the course of the robbery, Blomdahl was actively engaged in communication with the robber. In one instance, he instructed the robber to falsely detain the boy. Additionally, Blomdahl went a step further by masquerading as the victim and contacting the victim’s mother. His intention was to obtain unauthorized access to the boy’s online sales account.
In March 2022, Blomdahl was indicted by a federal grand jury in Portland. The indictment charges him with possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Blomdahl admitted his guilt for these charges in September 2023. Furthermore, in May 2023, Pastorino was sentenced to 77 months in prison, along with five years of supervised release, for his involvement in the armed robbery.
The case was thoroughly investigated by HSI and the Portland Police Bureau. Cassady A. Adams, an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, was responsible for prosecuting it.
As Oregon lawmakers strive to recriminalize drug possession, they are motivated by the adverse effects of the 2020 voter-approved Measure 110, which decriminalized it.
Following the implementation of the measure, Oregon witnessed a significant surge in fentanyl-related drug overdose deaths, which more than doubled in number.