Medford man pleads guilty to fentanyl distribution causing two deaths

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A 60-year-old Medford, Ore. man pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearm charges on Monday, admitting that fentanyl he distributed resulted in two overdose deaths.

Richard Scott Samuels pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.

The guilty plea follows an investigation into two fatal fentanyl overdoses reported on May 15, 2025 and Aug. 6, 2025. Law enforcement agencies determined Samuels was the supplier of the fentanyl used by both victims. The case was investigated by the FBI and Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement.

Law enforcement officers arrested Samuels on Sept. 4, 2025. During the arrest, officers seized a phone, $5,332 in cash, a handgun and multiple illicit drugs from his person and residence. The seized drugs included approximately 283 grams of fentanyl, 92 grams of heroin, five grams of methamphetamine and five grams of cocaine.

A federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment against Samuels on Nov. 6, 2025. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Shaw is prosecuting the case. As part of his plea agreement, Samuels agreed to forfeit any criminally derived proceeds and property identified by the government that were used to facilitate his crimes.

Samuels faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and four years of supervised release.

Samuels is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.