TRAVIS LEROY THOMAS, 40, of Washougal, Washington, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to the felony charge of Possession of Pseudoephedrine For Purposes of Manufacturing Methamphetamine in connection with a drug trafficking investigation in southwest Washington.

The offense is punishable by up to twenty years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a period of supervised release of three years to follow imprisonment.

According to court records filed in the case, during November 2007, THOMAS met with Craig Nelson in Tenino, Washington, and took delivery of two large jars of pseudoephedrine pills which THOMAS intended to deliver to others to manufacture methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. It is a federal felony offense to possess pseudoephedrine, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe, the chemical will be used to manufacture methamphetamine. On November 11, 2007, THOMAS was stopped by the police for a traffic infraction in Cowlitz County, while still in possession of the pseudoephedrine. THOMAS was arrested and the two jars of pseudoephedrine were seized by law enforcement.

Three other southwest Washington residents have previously pleaded guilty to trafficking in pseudoephedrine in connection with this investigation and are awaiting sentencing. They include Craig Nelson, 49, of Tenino, Washington, Jodie Dolan, 34, of Washougal, Washington, and Leo Bunker, 47, of Washougal, Washington.

Sentencing for THOMAS is set for September 12, 2008.

This matter was investigated by the Clark-Skamania Drug Task Force, Washougal Police Department, Camas Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

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.

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