COLIN D. WALMSLEY, 32, of Shoreline, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Pharmaceutical Controlled Substances, and to Being a User of Methamphetamine in Possession of a Firearm. WALMSLEY is one of more than two dozen people charged and convicted in connection with a large pharmacy burglary ring that stole narcotics and distributed them in the Snohomish County region. WALMSLEY pleaded guilty September 6, 2007.

WALMSLEY received thousands of pills between 2004 and 2006, from individuals involved in the pharmacy burglary ring. WALMSLEY received and distributed quantities of oxycodone, morphine, and methadone, Schedule II controlled substances, and Schedule III and Schedule IV stimulants and tranquilizers. On some occasions WALMSLEY attempted to assist in the pharmacy burglaries, but his main participation was in the sale and distribution of the stolen drugs.

WALMSLEY sold the pills largely out of his residence in Snohomish County. During this period, search warrants were executed at WALMSLEY’s residence in Shoreline, Washington, and related searches were conducted, resulting in the recovery of drugs that the defendant was using and distributing, and firearms that he possessed, including a Glock 19, pistol, Walther P-22 pistol, Butler Derringer pistol, Ruger pistol, Taurus pistol, and Smith & Wesson .357 revolver. WALMSLEY possessed these firearms during the same time that he was using methamphetamine.

In addition, WALMSLEY admitted that during November 2005, he and another of the pharmacy burglars broke into a GameStop video store at 1402 164th Street SW in Lynnwood, and stole computer game equipment.

At sentencing WALMSLEY said, “Drugs have ruined three plus years of my life... I am looking forward to getting out of prison and beginning life sober.” Chief Judge Lasnik reiterated that the harm from WALMSLEY’s drug dealing was not just to him and his children. “There are other children out there who were not getting proper care because their parents were strung out on meth or the other drugs you supplied,” Judge Lasnik said.

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 Shoreline Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The case was 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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