Yakima, Wash. – Six people are in federal custody following the return of an indictment in the Eastern District of Washington alleging 20 criminal counts involving drug trafficking and firearms On April 22, 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland...

PORTLAND, Oregon- The Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division today announced a multi-agency fentanyl enforcement operation resulting in dozens of arrests, and the seizure of drugs, firearms, and cash in Portland, Oregon. Honduran drug traffickers working for the Sinaloa Cartel infiltrated Portland flooding the area with deadly fentanyl and other...

BOISE – Michael Paul Lacasse, 48, and Venetia Dawn Trischan, 47, of Caldwell, were sentenced to 133 months and 96 months, respectively, in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. According to court records, in December 2023, law enforcement learned that Lacasse and Trischan were involved in...

BOISE – Evan Nickolai Ernstson, 48, of Boise, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today. Senior U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Ernstson to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his...

SPOKANE, Wash.- United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Ray Anthony Wynecoop, age 24, to 30 years in prison and Isaac Anthony Ott, age 23, to 25 years in prison on federal drug and firearm charges. Judge Dimke also imposed 8 years of supervised release for both Wynecoop and...

TACOMA, Wash. – A high-level drug redistributor for a drug ring connected to Aryan prison gangs was sentenced to 84 months (24 months on count 1 consecutive to 60 months on count 2) in prison for drug and gun possession, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. C’La Morales, 39...

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Fairbanks man was sentenced today to over 14 years in prison for possessing with intent to sell over 12 kilograms of controlled substances. According to court documents, beginning in August 2023, law enforcement received information that Kevin Shank, 46, was selling controlled substances from his residence...

TACOMA, Wash. – A 32-year-old Renton, Washington resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 13 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking ring connected to Aryan prison gangs, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Shawn Ellis was arrested in March 2023, when...

SPOKANE, Wash. – Today United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Erubey Arciga Medrano, age 35, of Michoacan, Mexico, to 180 months in federal prison on drug trafficking charges. Judge Rice also imposed 5 years of supervised release. When he imposed the sentence, Judge Rice noted the large amount...

SEATTLE – Five Seattle-area men are in custody following a grand jury indictment for their drug trafficking activity in Seattle’s homeless encampments and International District, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The men are charged federally and have made their initial appearances over the last few days. “We are all...