Portland man sentenced for dealing fentanyl while stealing coronavirus relief

(The Center Square) - A Portland, Oregon, man received a federal prison sentence this week for dealing counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in the Portland area and stealing federal funds meant to help small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

Yuriy Viktorovich Vasilchuk, 33, received a 49-month federal prison sentence plus three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. He must also pay $32,855 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

In early 2021, Homeland Security Investigations special security agents identified Vasilchuk as a Portland area source of supply for counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. Law enforcement located Vasilchuk in a stolen vehicle in December 2021. He had 88 counterfeit Oxycodone pills in his possession at the time of his arrest.

A federal grand jury in Portland indicted Vasilchuk in March 2022 on one count of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.

After Vasilchuk's indictment, HSI special agents and probation officers from the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice tried arresting Vasilchuk, who they found in a stolen vehicle.

However, as the probation officers approached Vasilchuk’s stolen vehicle, the man sped off, almost striking a probation officer.

Vasilchuk then traveled several miles and caused several accidents. Once his vehicle was no longer usable, Vasilchuk fled on foot.

Shortly after that, investigators found Vasilchuk hiding in an abandoned RV and arrested him.

After his arrest, investigators got evidence that, from March 2021 to November 2021, Vasilchuk applied to receive Paycheck Protection Program funds and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. He did this while actively distributing fentanyl.

While applying for these funds, Vasilchuk stated falsely that he had not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony involving fraud, bribery, embezzlement, or making a false statement on a loan application in the past five years.

SBA then provided over $32,000 to Vasilchuk spent the money on personal expenses.

Vasilchuk was charged by criminal information in August 2023 with wire fraud. He pleaded to one count each of wire fraud and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl in March 2024. Those guilty pleas resolved both cases.