PORTLAND — An Albany man was sentenced to five years in federal prison for distributing heroin and methamphetamine in and around Linn County, the U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Oregon announced Wednesday.
According to court documents, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives began investigating Anthoni Joseph Bassetti, 28, in January 2020. Bassetti was described as a mid-level drug dealer. That same month, agents arranged and conducted two undercover drug deals with him. On March 6 of that year, they executed a federal search warrant on his residence, seizing user quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine and seven firearms.
Bassetti was subsequently charged by criminal complaint with distribution of methamphetamine and heroin. In August, he was charged by criminal information with distribution of methamphetamine. Roughly a year later, he waived indictment and pleaded guilty to the single charge.
Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
ATF received assistance on the case from the Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (LINE), which consists of investigators from the Albany, Lebanon, and Sweet Home police departments; the Linn County Sheriff’s Office; Oregon State Police and the Oregon Army National Guard Counter Drug Task Force. Additional assistance was provided by the Corvallis Police Department and Benton County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren prosecuted the case.
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