LEO BRITTON BUNKER, 48, of Washougal, Washington, appeared today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma and was sentenced by Judge Ronald B. Leighton to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release, upon his conviction for unlawfully distributing pseudoephedrine, a controlled chemical precursor used in the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine.

According to records filed in the case, during November 2007, BUNKER approached state officers and offered to cooperate and provide information concerning an individual who was distributing large quantities of pseudoephedrine to others in the southern Washington area. Pseudoephedrine is a regulated chemical used in the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine.

At the direction of officers, BUNKER participated in recorded conversations with this individual and introduced an undercover agent to the individual for purposes of conducting further pseudoephedrine transactions. During this same period of time, officers received information that BUNKER himself was offering jars of pseudoephedrine for sale to others in the Washougal area. This activity was wholly unauthorized by law enforcement and was being hidden by BUNKER from law enforcement.

On December 6, 2007, BUNKER met with an undercover officer in Washougal and attempted to sell the officer a large jar of pseudoephedrine tablets for $2,400. BUNKER was arrested at the scene and the jar of pseudoephedrine was seized.

At the time of his arrest, BUNKER knew he was acting unlawfully and that his conduct was not authorized by law enforcement.

This matter was investigated by the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force, 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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