EUGENE, Ore. – Nicholas Jacobson and his twin brother Matthew Jacobson, 30, of Jackson County Oregon, were sentenced to prison on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken for conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Nicholas Jacobson was sentenced to 97 months in prison, and Matthew Jacobson was sentenced to 78 months in prison. Following their release from prison, both defendants will be on supervised release for five years.
In July 2014, the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) and the DEA began investigating the Jacobson brothers who were well known to DINT as having been involved in dealing heroin in Douglas and Jackson counties for years. Assisted by a confidential informant, DINT and the DEA began making controlled buys of heroin from the Jacobson brothers, who lived in Jackson County on a large rural property.
A search warrant was executed at the Jacobsons’ property in Jackson County on October 9, 2014. Approximately four pounds of heroin and $20,000 was located, along with body armor, night vision googles and 17 firearms. The firearms—most of which were loaded—included multiple assault rifles and pistols, along with extended capacity magazines. Most of the heroin and firearms were located in the main residence where Nicholas lived, although a large amount of heroin paraphernalia, $1237 and two pistols were located in Matthew’s trailer. Law enforcement determined that the brothers worked together to deal heroin but that Nicholas had more involvement than Matthew.
Within a month after being charged in federal court and placed on pre-trial release, the Jacobsons absconded. They were arrested four months later in Medford, Oregon at a residence where officers also found approximately six ounces of heroin and $10,000.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance by the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sweet.