1 of 20 meth suspects gets 77 months
A Coeur d'Alene man was sentenced this week to 6 1/2 years in federal prison for his role in a large group of methamphetamine distributors.
Larry McMillan, 31, received 77 months in prison Monday after pleading guilty in September to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Investigators say McMillan and others bought meth in Seattle that was then distributed in the Coeur d'Alene area. He's one of 20 suspects charged in the case. Eighteen have been convicted and 17 sentenced, including Brenda Barron and her daughter, Amber Larsen.
McMillan's lawyer said in court documents that McMillan traveled with Larsen and Shad Johnson to Seattle with the intent of selling his dump tru
ck, but Johnson instead used the truck to settle a drug debt.
"Mr McMillan ended up with no dump truck and approximately two ounces of low grade methamphetamine," according to the documents. Johnson (pictured) has pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and is to be sentenced Jan. 25.
That incident led to the charge against McMillan, who also sold a quarter ounce of meth to Larsen on three occasions, documents said. McMillan turned to selling drugs after his dry wall business went under about two years ago, his lawyer wrote.
The U.S. Attorney's Office praised the sentence imposed on McMillan.
“Methamphetamine is a horribly addictive drug that poses a threat to our communities,” United States Attorney Wendy J. Olson said in a prepared statement. “The United States Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners will continue to aggressive(ly) investigate and prosecute methamphetamine distribution rings such as this one.”