Wapato Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 92 Months in Federal Prison

Spokane – Today, Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Jeremiah Joseph Axtell, age 41, of Wapato, Washington, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Senior United States District Court Judge Lonny R. Suko sentenced Axtell to a 92 month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a four year term of court supervision following release from Federal prison.

According to information disclosed during the court proceedings, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Axtell’s residence on March 18, 2014. They located several ounces of methamphetamine and ten firearms. Axtell was indicted by a grand jury on April 8, 2014, and he pled guilty on May 29, 2014 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Michael C. Ormsby said, “The DEA, ATF, and BIA here in the Eastern District of Washington are to be commended for their continued aggressive investigative efforts involving drug trafficking, particularly when firearms are present. This case involved a significant amount of methamphetamine that the Defendant intended to distribute and the Defendant was in possession of numerous firearms as well. The seriousness of the Defendant’s criminal conduct is reflected by the 92 month sentence imposed by the judge. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to support its law enforcement partners by aggressively prosecuting drug trafficking and firearm-related crimes.”

This investigation was conducted by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. This case was prosecuted by Benjamin D. Seal, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.