Repeat Drug Offender Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm Possession

Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker announced today that on February 19, 2025, United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Nicholas J. Kloepfel, age 41, of Graham, Washington, to 96 months in prison on one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Judge Rice also imposed 3 years of supervised release.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on January 20, 2024, Officers with the Kalispel Police Department identified Kloepfel at the Northen Quest Casino engaged in what was believed to be illegal activity.  Klopefel was on federal supervision out of the Western District of Washington and did not have permission to be on this side of the state. Officers learned Kloepfel had an extensive history related to drug trafficking and was on federal supervised release after having been sentenced to more than 190 months previously for a federal firearm and drug trafficking conviction. Through Kalipsel Police Department’s ongoing investigation, they requested the assistance of the Airway Heights Police Department to conduct a traffic stop of Kleopfel.  Officers also confirmed there was an active warrant for Kloepfel’s arrest for multiple violations of his federal supervised release. Officers conducted a traffic stop a short distance away and took Kloepfel into custody.

Investigators executed a state search warrant and searched Kloepfel’s vehicle, which had been identified in connection with a drug investigation in Eastern Washington. Investigators located three loaded handguns, ammunition, a fake silencer, a small amount of drugs, and drug paraphernalia. Based on Kloepfel’s extensive criminal history, he was prohibited from the possession of firearms.

“As part of his arguments at sentencing, Mr. Kloepfel asserted that he possessed the firearms and drugs because of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, resulting from his prior incarceration and from being a gang dropout. The defendant even compared to being a Vietnam veteran,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Barker.  “As AUSA Stephanie Van Marter put it at the sentencing hearing, Mr. Kloepfel’s comparison of himself with a Vietnam veteran is simply ‘offensive.’”

“The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) deeply values its strong partnership with the Kalispel Tribe, which acted swiftly to address this matter. The heightened sentence of this repeat offender underscores the gravity with which Indian Country law enforcement treats crimes committed on and in connection to their lands,” said BIA-DDE Deputy Associate Director Tom Atkinson. “The offender's lack of remorse highlights the necessity of addressing such cases. The BIA - Division of Drug Enforcement (DDE) remains committed to collaborating with tribes to improve their lands and enhance public safety across all their communities.”

This case was investigated by the Kalispel Tribal Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter.

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