Mechanic Gets 18 Months In Coke Case

A self-employed Spokane auto mechanic was sentenced to 18 months in prison Wednesday for distributing cocaine.

Gary Mike, 44, of E13117 Nixon, cried and described himself as a victim when he was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Frem Nielsen.

The sentence is the minimum in the sentencing range for the crimes he committed. He could have faced 15 years in prison if convicted of the charges contained in an indictment returned late last year.

Mike was among 30 people arrested as part of the major cocaine investigation known as Operation Doughboy.

He originally was charged with conspiracy, one count of distribution of cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and a firearms charge.

Mike, like most of the other Doughboy defendants, struck a plea bargain and pleaded guilty on Nov. 14 to three counts of distributing cocaine. The other charges were dismissed as part of the deal.