Klamath Falls forgery & theft ring apprehended

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The following is a press release from the Klamath Falls Police Department.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - On September 19, 2022, Basin Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (BINET), the Klamath Falls Police Department, the Oregon State Police, and the Klamath County Parole and Probation Department served a search warrant on Gatewood Drive in Klamath Falls. 

Several individuals were arrested during the investigation, including the ringleader Benjamin Sorenson, age 40.  Thousands of dollars worth of forged receipts were seized along with a loaded handgun and a dealer amount of methamphetamine. 

A stolen moped was also recovered and returned to its owner. 

BINET’s investigation into the drug-related forgery ring detailed that Mr. Sorenson was creating tens of thousands of dollars worth of forged store receipts from local stores in Klamath Falls for a fee. 

These stores included Home Depot, Fred Meyer, Diamond Home Improvement, Wal-Mart, Auto Zone, and possibly more.  Local offenders would pay Mr. Sorenson to make these forged receipts and then go to the listed store and walk out with hundreds, and often thousands of dollars worth of items.  If the suspect stealing the items was checked by store employees, they would show the fairly authentic-looking receipt and walk away with the stolen merchandise.

Mr. Sorenson was lodged in the Klamath County Jail on charges of:

  • Felon in Possession of a Firearm

  • Felony Possession of Methamphetamine

  • Theft I

  • Forgery I

  • Criminal Possession of a Forgery Device

  • Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle

  • Probation Violation

BINET served a search warrant previously on Mr. Sorenson’s residence in February 2022, resulting in the seizure of dealer amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and multiple firearms.  Mr. Sorenson was released from jail shortly after that incident and those charges are still proceeding through the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office.      

Anyone with information regarding organized theft rings associated with the distribution of dangerous drugs within Klamath County is encouraged to call the Klamath Falls Police Department Anonymous Tip Line at (541) 883-5334 or the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at (541) 850-5380.