SPOKANE, Wash. – A man who played a role in a massive fentanyl trafficking operation that distributed pills across Eastern Washington, including in Pasco, Spokane and Ritzville, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to court officials.
According to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, in December 2023 about 5,475 fentanyl pills were seized in a residential search warrant in Spokane. Cocaine, guns, and multiple cell phones were also seized. Authorities said evidence collected in the search showed the house was used for the distribution of fentanyl in Spokane.
Authorities said evidence seized during the search showed Clinton Paul Patterson, 42, of Spokane, was the source of the fentanyl being trafficked out of the house. Text messages showed Patterson had been directing drug distribution activities, coordinating meeting locations, and arranging payments. Police said they found evidence of thousands of dollars in payments for drug activity…