PORTLAND, Ore. - Jacob Tolman, 33, was indicted today for distribution of heroin that resulted in death, announced Amanda Marshall, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, and John S. Foote, Clackamas County District Attorney. The federal charges were brought after an investigation led by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Interagency Task Force (CCITF), which committed experienced narcotics investigators and significant agency resources immediately upon discovery of the overdose victim. Trial is set for June 26, 2012, before U.S. District Court Judge Ancer L. Haggerty.

Zachary Holland, 23, a resident of Milwaukie, Oregon, was found dead on Saturday, November 5, 2011. Holland died in his grandmother's basement, where he had been living. Investigators found drug paraphernalia and residue quantities of black tar heroin. Holland was among the record number of individuals - 143 - who died from heroin overdoses in Oregon in 2011. According to family members, Holland began using heroin after he became dependent on prescription painkillers. Prior to his death, Holland made several attempts to fight his heroin addiction, including attending drug treatment therapy.

"Dealing heroin is tantamount to dealing death," said U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall. "My heart goes out to Zachary Holland's family and all of those families who have lost loved ones to this dangerous drug."

The United States Attorney's Office and the Clackamas County District Attorney's Office have made the investigation and prosecution of drug overdose cases a high priority due to the devastating impact drug distribution has in Oregon. Several significant drug dealers who would have otherwise gone undetected, have been arrested, successfully prosecuted, and sentenced to prison in both state and federal court as a result of this combined state and local effort to investigate and prosecute drug overdose deaths.

Tolman was detained by a federal magistrate pending a hearing scheduled for May 2 at 1:30 p.m. Count 1 charges Tolman with distribution of heroin resulting in death, and was brought under the federal "Len Bias" statute. This count carries a statutory mandatory minimum prison term of twenty years, a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of up to $2 million.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah K. Bolstad.