A Tuesday arrest of three men involved in a methamphetamine drug deal led to the discovery of a stolen Duck football bowl championship ring in a home of one of the arrested.
The Eugene Police Department seized an ounce of meth, worth more than $3,200, from Mark Lee Fain of Eugene.
According to a police statement released Thursday, “A joint investigation by Springfield and Eugene narcotics detectives revealed that Mark Fain is the leader of a cadre of meth dealers in the Lane County area.”
Following Tuesday’s arrest in West Eugene, detectives searched Fain’s home to find the 2008 Holiday Bowl ring that belongs to Duck running back LaMichael James, along with a collection of handguns and drug-packing materials.
The ring had been reported stolen from James’ car on Patterson Street on Aug. 13, and until now, police had no information on its whereabouts.
Police spokesperson Jenna LaBounty said Fain, 50, admitted that he had received the ring in a trade for meth earlier in the month, but she said police “have no suspicions that James was involved with the drug trade.”
The University’s Media Relations Department was not aware the ring had been missing or recovered.
“At this point, we have no knowledge of this; the athletics department is unaware of the issue,” athletic department spokesperson Kim Johannsen said.
According to police, EPD vice-narcotic detectives arrested Fain and two others after observing Fain and Erwin Guthrie of Junction City engaging in a “suspicious transaction” in a parking lot on Royal Avenue.
Fain and Guthrie were both arrested at the scene for the possession and delivery of meth.
Mark Villanueva, who police said was posing as Fain’s bodyguard, was also arrested. Police arrested Villanueva on a previous warrant for an outstanding weapons charge.
Police seized undisclosed amounts of marijuana and ecstasy in addition to the ounce of meth Fain possessed at the time of his arrest. Two weeks ago, Fain was arrested for possession of an ounce and a half of meth. In early September, two meth dealers associated with Fain were arrested in Springfield for allegedly exploiting defective lottery machines to embezzle thousands of dollars.
Fain, Guthrie and Villanueva are being held in custody at the Lane County Jail. No court date has been set.
LaBounty said the Holiday Bowl ring has been returned to James.
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