PORTLAND, Ore. - Bladimir Nunez-Maciel, 42, and Marlon Yoshigey Rovello Paz, 26, appeared today in federal court on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Nunez-Maciel was also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and alien in unlawful possession of a firearm. The defendants entered pleas of not guilty and were detained pending an October 23, 2012, trial date with U.S. District Court Judge Ancer L. Haggerty.

On August 14, 2012, Portland Police Bureau officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Nunez-Maciel in the area of Southeast 136th Avenue and Powell Boulevard, within Portland, Oregon. Rovello Paz was a passenger in the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle officers located a suitcase containing approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine. A subsequent search of Nunez-Maciel's residence found additional methamphetamine and a firearm. The defendants were indicted in federal court on August 16, 2012.

This case was investigated by Portland Police Bureau Drugs and Vice Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin, head of the U.S. Attorney's Gang Unit, is handling the prosecution.

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