PORT ANGELES — Four Clallam County residents were sentenced last month to state prison or probation for drug crimes investigated by the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Joseph J. Neske, 35, of Port Angeles received the harshest of the four sentences when he was ordered Friday to serve five years, 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Neske pleaded guilty to the charge in federal court Aug. 3. He will serve four years’ probation after his release.
OPNET team supervisor Jason Viada said Neske was part of an investigation into a heroin trafficking organization in the summer of 2011.
OPNET is a multi-jurisdictional drug-fighting team composed of Clallam and Jefferson County law enforcement officers.
It worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration on Neske’s case, Viada said.
Joseph I. Koroshes, 45, of Port Angeles was sentenced Oct. 17 to 20 months in state prison after pleading guilty to three counts of delivery of methamphetamine.
Viada said Koroshes sold meth to an undercover OPNET informant on three occasions between March and July of 2010.
Authorities wrote in court papers that the sales amounted to 8 grams for $700.
Probation
Meanwhile, Kelly K. Bushnell of Port Angeles and Paul J. Warrick Jr. of Sequim each were sentenced to two years of state probation after pleading guilty to selling drugs.
Bushnell, also known as Kelly Briggs, 49, pleaded guilty to delivery of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine in September. She was sentenced Oct. 23 in Clallam County Superior Court.
Warrick, 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of delivery of a controlled substance Oct. 10. One count was dismissed as part of a plea deal. He was sentenced last Thursday.
Viada said Warrick was one of seven suspects who sold prescription pills to OPNET informants earlier this year.
“OPNET now has fewer than 30 cases making their way through the court system,” Viada said.
“However, as a result of several ongoing investigations, many more arrests are anticipated.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
