SKAGIT COUNTY MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO AIDING IN ROBBERY OF A PHARMACY
Arlington Rite-Aid Targeted
DEREK LINDSTROM, 20, of Burlington, Washington, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to robbing a Rite-Aid pharmacy in Arlington, Washington. Pharmacy robbery is a felony offense punishable by up to twenty years imprisonment and a two hundred fifty thousand dollar fine.
On September 19, 2007, RANDON GILFILLAN, 18, also of Burlington, Washington, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact in connection with the same robbery. This offense is punishable by up to ten years imprisonment and a $125,000.00 fine.
Court documents indicate that on July 21, 2007, LINDSTROM entered the Rite-Aid pharmacy, located at 17226 Smokey Point Boulevard, in Arlington, Washington, during daylight hours, intending to rob the pharmacy by demanding oxycodone. Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance and highly addictive prescription opiate. A second individual accompanied LINDSTROM into the pharmacy acting as a “lookout” during the robbery. GILFILLAN waited in a vehicle outside. LINDSTROM approached the pharmacy counter, brandishing what appeared to be a handgun, but was a pellet gun, and demanded oxycodone. The pharmacist complied with LINDSTROM’s demand and delivered several bottles of oxycodone pills to LINDSTROM. LINDSTROM and the second individual then left the pharmacy with the drugs and were driven away by GILFILLAN. They took the drugs to a residence in Burlington, Washington, where they were arrested later that day by Burlington and Arlington Police officers. The drugs (approximately 1,700 pills) and weapon used were recovered.
In addition to pleading guilty, both LINDSTROM and GILFILLAN agreed to pay restitution to the pharmacy for the value of the drugs taken.
LINDSTROM is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge James L. Robart on January 7, 2008. GILFILLAN is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Robart on December 17, 2007.
This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (NW HIDTA), the Arlington Police Department and Burlington Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald J. Friedman.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.
