A bag of fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone. 

A Medford man was arrested and charged with obtaining fentanyl from California and allegedly using minors to help him deliver it out of an apartment on Crater Lake Avenue not far from North Medford High School.

Mason Jeffrey Barrette, 22, was arrested May 5 on multiple drug charges.

Barrette “is believed to be linked to numerous overdoses in the Medford area,” according to a news release issued Thursday by the Medford Police Department. Additional charges for Barrette are pending, the release said.

Barrette had been under investigation for nearly a year by Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement and Oregon State Police for his suspected fentanyl dealing in Medford, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by Medford police Officer Ryan Tuff. 

Then, on May 4, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Laura Cromwell issued a warrant to search Barrette’s Medford apartment at 1800 Crater Lake Ave.

On May 5, MADGE detectives located a safe containing more than 230 grams of fentanyl, 3.6 grams of methamphetamine, 73.5 Xanax bars, 91.6 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, scales, and clean, unused packaging, according to the affidavit.

When detectives interviewed Barrette, he allegedly admitted to picking up fentanyl near San Francisco, the affidavit states.

After speaking with Barrette, detectives were led to two juveniles he knew — and they allegedly admitted to receiving fentanyl from Barrette, according to the affidavit.

“One juvenile admitted to delivering fentanyl for Barrette, and receiving fentanyl as payment,” the document stated.

Barrett was arrested May 5, a grand jury indicted him on eight charges May 9, and he was arraigned the following day.

Barrette has pleaded not guilty to manufacture, delivery and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; unlawful manufacture or delivery of a Schedule I, II or III controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school; unlawful delivery of a Schedule I or II controlled substance to a minor; felony using a minor in a controlled substance or marijuana.

Barrette was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on $250,000 bail. His next court appearance is 9 a.m., May 22, before Judge Ron Grensky.

At the time of his arrest this week, Barrette was awaiting trial for two previous arrests — in July and November 2022 — for manufacturing, delivering and possession of fentanyl.