TACOMA — A former Sequim car dealer received an 11-year prison sentence Friday from a federal judge who said his methamphetamine ring involved “weapons and violent undertones.”
Timothy P. Smith, 31, received the sentence — one year more than the mandatory term — from U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Bryan. Smith also must serve five years of supervision after he is released.
He had pleaded guilty in January to charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of meth with intent to distribute, according to acting U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.
He originally also had been charged with maintaining drug-involved premises.
One of his co-conspirators, Tammy R. Coburn of Port Angeles, was sentenced last month to 18 months in prison, Hayes said.
The other defendants, Kelsey J. Davis, Holli A. Bell, Jacob E. Davis and Charles D. Aslin, also have pleaded guilty in the case and are awaiting sentencing.
‘Menace’ in community
Hayes called Smith “a menace in his community who spread methamphetamine and its attendant harm on the Olympic Peninsula.”
Smith was arrested Feb. 23, 2014, at the end of a 100 mph chase west of the Hood Canal Bridge that ended after he drove over two sets of spike strips.
State Patrol officers said they saw someone throw white bags from the fleeing car. The bags turned out to contain 1.6 pounds of meth.
Investigators found $4,000 on Davis’ person that she later said Smith had told her to conceal.
At the time, Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict called Smith “a prolific drug dealer” whose ring “has fueled too much personal misery and property crime.”
The investigation of Smith began in 2011 and involved members of the FBI; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Hayes said Smith used his Sellin Style car dealership on Old Blyn Highway in Sequim to sell meth to customers who included someone who worked with investigators in June, July and August 2013.
Smith also sold meth in Port Angeles and bought the drug at locations in Poulsbo and Silverdale, she said.
His arrest climaxed the take-down of the drug ring that had supplied meth to Smith, Hayes said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory A. Gruber led the prosecution.
