Spokane Man Gets 3 Years For Part In Cocaine Ring Another Defendant Pleads Guilty To 3 Counts In Operation Doughboy

A Spokane home builder was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for his part in a cocaine distribution ring that authorities dubbed “Operation Doughboy.”

Robert F. Dawson, 27, must serve 37 months behind bars, then complete five years of supervised release.

During that five-year period, Dawson must submit to random searches of his car and home and undergo drug testing.

U.S. District Judge Fred Van Sickle said Dawson was responsible for distributing “fairly large quantities” of cocaine.

“It was something I lost control on,” a teary-eyed Dawson told the judge. “I’ll never be in that situation again in my life.”

Dawson was a major cocaine distributor for his friend, Clarence “Cip” Paulsen III, who was a primary target of the 18-month investigation.

Dawson was the first defendant in Operation Doughboy to plead guilty to conspiracy and agree to assist investigators.

He pleaded guilty on Oct. 27, confessing that between 1992 and 1994, he had distributed at least 1 kilogram of cocaine and was aware of the distribution of at least 15 more kilos.

A kilo (2.2 pounds) of cocaine sells for about $25,000 but brings far more when sold in smaller amounts.

Three weeks after Dawson pleaded guilty, Paulsen also struck a deal and pleaded guilty to four drug charges.

For the conspiracy conviction, Dawson faced a standard sentence of 87 to 108 months in prison. But prosecutors agreed to whittle their recommendation to only 37 months because of Dawson’s assistance.

Information he provided led investigators to search a Spokane house in early November, where 1 ounce of cocaine and $23,000 in cash were seized, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Rice told the court.

Rice said charges are expected to be filed, but he wouldn’t identify the individual or the location of the home.

In another federal courtroom Monday, James L. Miller pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute the drug.

The 44-year-old part-time cook at the Mandarin House confessed that he “shared the drug” with his girlfriend, whose parents own the restaurant.

Miller said he was using one-half to 1 gram of cocaine a day before last August when he was among two dozen defendants arrested in the initial Operation Doughboy arrests.

“I’m an addict and I’m in treatment now,” Miller told Judge Frem Nielsen.

Miller bought one-half ounce of cocaine for $600 from FBI informer Hal Turner on Dec. 24, 1993, in a bathroom of the restaurant at E7102 Sprague, Rice said.

On Jan. 22, 1994, Miller agreed to pay $1,200 for an ounce of cocaine after he met Turner at Weise’s tavern, N2436 Astor. The drug was delivered the following day at the Mandarin House.

On Feb. 8, 1994, Miller used a telephone pager to contact Turner and arrange for the purchase of another ounce of cocaine for $1,200 at the restaurant, Rice said.

Under terms of a plea agreement, Miller likely faces 12 to 18 months in jail when he is sentenced April 7.

Of those initially arrested, only two defendants have not pleaded guilty and are awaiting trial.

Gregory S. Brebner and Terence K. Brousseau, both 37 and of Spokane, are scheduled to stand trial Feb. 6.