During a raid on a Northeast Portland home last year, Multnomah County sheriff’s deputies discovered an unusual hiding place: a vintage Coca-Cola machine that contained cocaine, fentanyl, cash, six firearms, ammunition and body armor — but no soda.
The homeowner, Herbert Lee Streeter, 71, was sentenced Monday to five years in prison after admitting to investigators that his drug-dealing to people in his neighborhood near Northeast 84th Avenue had “gotten out of hand,” according to court records.
U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut accepted the sentence jointly recommended by the prosecutor and Streeter’s defense attorney after Streeter apologized to his family.
In April, Streeter pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances and two counts of possessing a gun in furtherance of a crime.
Streeter was arrested in February 2025 and granted pretrial release less than a week later. Three months after his arrest, investigators found text messages that revealed Streeter was still selling drugs and actively soliciting customers, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Chamberlain.
“I’m ready to get started. I got a gram of fetty for you,” read one text message that Streeter, using the nickname “H-Streets,” sent to someone.
Chamberlain said Streeter then failed to appear in court during his next scheduled hearing, knowing he would likely be detained. U.S. Marshals arrested Streeter a short time later, in June 2025.
Streeter admitted the guns found in his home on Feb. 10, 2025, were his. Along with the guns, police seized two high-capacity magazines, Chamberlain said.
Streeter said he kept the guns for protection after having been robbed in the recent past of drugs and money, according to Chamberlain.
In court Monday, Streeter said he had the guns to protect against a potential robbery after having inherited some money.
Regardless, Immergut reminded Streeter that he wasn’t allowed to have any firearms as a convicted felon. He has prior convictions dating back to 1983, including for escape, delivery of heroin and strangulation.
Streeter’s brother, three adult children and several grandchildren attended Monday’s sentencing hearing.
His daughter Jasmine Streeter addressed the judge, saying she does not excuse her father’s choices and mistakes but described him as a loving parent and grandparent who has struggled with significant trauma and grief in his life, including the deaths of one son due to drug addiction and another son to gun violence.
“I believe my father is more than any mistake,” she said, adding that he is deeply loved by his family and has the capacity to grow and heal.
Streeter turned to his family and apologized. “I’m sorry to you all,” he said, his voice quivering with emotion. He wiped tears from his eyes and added, “Thank you all for being here with me.”
He told the judge he made some bad choices and attributed them to his own drug addiction that masked the grief he’s struggled with from the loss of those close to him.
“I just gave up,” he said. “I was looking for a way out, that’s about all.”
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