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Date: 05-28-2024
Case Style:
United States of America v. Dustin Carl Wurges
Case Number: 3:22-CR-5070
Judge: Benjamin H. Settle
Court: The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington (King County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Seattle
Defendant's Attorney: Allyson L. Barker, Bryan G. Hershman, and Scott Thomas McGinty
Description: Seattle, Washington criminal defense lawyers Allyson L. Barker, Bryan G. Hershman, and Scott Thomas McGinty represented the Defendant charged with fentanyl distribution.
Final defendant sentenced to ten years in prison in fentanyl distribution scheme.
Law enforcement became aware of Dustin Carl Wurges, age 37, and Jonathan Mayhall’s drug activity as they investigated an Aryan prison gang involved in trafficking drugs in the Puget Sound region. In November 2021, the men set up a drug deal with contacts in southern California. Initially they were taking $50,000 to purchase controlled substances, but when the prices seemed low, they upped their budget by an additional $200,000. As the two men returned from California, law enforcement monitored their progress. At a rest area in Thurston County Washington law enforcement arrested the men. In the car, law enforcement seized more than four kilograms of fentanyl, nearly two kilograms of cocaine, more than a kilogram of heroin, two and a half kilograms of methamphetamine, two firearms, three ballistic vests, money counters, and more than $87,000 in cash. Law enforcement seized an additional pistol from the purse of a female co-conspirator who was riding in the vehicle.
Wurges entered a guilty plea in the case in October 2023. Both the prosecution and defense agreed to recommend a sentence of ten years in prison with five years of supervised release to follow prison.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Settle said, “This is a very serious crime because of the wake of damage it leaves behind.”
The investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon and Max Shiner.
Outcome:
Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to ten years in prison with five years of supervised release to follow prison
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: