TACOMA — The final three defendants in a drug distribution ring have been sentenced to prison in U.S. District Court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in and around Port Angeles and Sequim.
The group’s criminal activity centered around the Sellin Style car dealership near Sequim, said acting U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.
The former owner of the dealership, Timothy P. Smith, 31, was sentenced earlier this month to 11 years in prison.
On Friday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Holli A. Bell, 35, of Port Angeles was sentenced to five years in prison for her involvement in two different schemes involving distribution of methamphetamine, Hayes said.
U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan said during the hearing that the amount of drugs distributed in this case was so large that long prison terms were needed to protect the public and deter other criminal conduct.
On Friday, Bryan also sentenced Jacob E. Davis, 26, of Port Angeles to three years in prison for his role as a methamphetamine distributor.
On Thursday, he sentenced Charles D. Aslin, of Sequim to 5½ years in prison for meth distribution.
Smith, the lead defendant, also must serve five years of supervision after he is released.
Smith had pleaded guilty in January to charges of conspiracy to distribute meth and possession of meth with intent to distribute.
He originally also had been charged with maintaining drug-involved premises.
Davis, Bell, and Aslin also pleaded guilty to the charges for which they were sentenced.
One of Smith’s co-conspirators, Tammy R. Coburn of Port Angeles, was sentenced last month to 18 months in prison, Hayes said.
Arrested in 2014
Law enforcement moved in to arrest members of the drug distribution ring in February 2014.
During that same time period, police also arrested members of another drug ring in the Tacoma area that was supplying meth to Smith’s organization, Hayes said.
Smith was arrested Feb. 23, 2014, after a 100 mph chase west of the Hood Canal Bridge.
State Patrol officers said they saw white bags thrown from the fleeing car. The bags turned out to contain 1.6 pounds of meth.
The investigation of Smith began in 2011 and involved members of the FBI; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Hayes said Smith used his Sellin Style car dealership on Old Blyn Highway in Sequim to sell meth to customers who included someone who worked with investigators in June, July and August 2013.
Smith also sold meth in Port Angeles and bought the drug at locations in Poulsbo and Silverdale, she said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory A. Gruber led the prosecution.
