Free Souls MC Member Who Had Almost 50 pounds of Meth Sentenced to Veterans Treatment Court

Man caught with nearly 50 pounds of meth last year sentenced to Veterans Treatment Court

Chelsea Deffenbacher KEZI News ABC 9 March 7, 2025 Eugene Oregon
https://www.kezi.com/news/local/man-caught-with-nearly-50-pounds-of-meth-last-year-sentenced-to-veterans-treatment-court/article_3832c9da-fb86-11ef-98cc-f3e86f29da60.html

EUGENE, Ore. – A prolific methamphetamine dealer who was caught last year with nearly 50 pounds of meth while was operating out of the Free Souls Motorcycle Club was sentenced to Veterans Treatment Court this week.

The sentencing was a surprising move, as treatment court is generally reserved for users and not dealers. Michael Bethel was sentenced to one day in jail with credit for time served and given five years of supervised probation when he pleaded guilty in January to the charges against him. Charges included unlawful possession of methamphetamine and cocaine, delivery of meth, felon in possession of a firearm, and criminal forfeiture. On Thursday Bethel signed an agreement to participant in Veterans Treatment Court as a condition of probation. If Bethel completes the Lane County Circuit Specialty Court program, he’s off the hook for the charges.

Court records show Bethel was caught near Cottage Grove driving back from California in a Toyota Prius with 44.5 pounds of meth. Back at the Allane Avenue Free Souls headquarters, where Bethel resided, police found an additional four pounds of meth, 29 grams of cocaine, $7,500 in cash, and drug packaging materials. Bethel told police that he sells mostly quarter-, half-, or full pounds of meth but sometimes sells ounces to customers.

The Lane County District Attorney’s Office said they had strongly argued that Bethel be sentenced to up to 6 years and 8 months in prison. The D.A.’s office said they had provided evidence that within two weeks of pleading guilty, while the charges were still pending, Bethel was spotted selling drugs. The D.A.’s office said Bethel was sentenced to participate in the treatment court and 5 years of probation, against the office’s recommendation. The D.A.’s office said Bethel could possibly be sentenced to prison if his probation is revoked.

While street values fluctuate, a 2022 press release from the Drug Enforcement Administration estimated 48 pounds of meth to be worth more than $2 million at that time.