Spokane man pleads guilty to dealing meth, sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison

A 33-year-old Spokane man will spend nearly two decades in federal prison after pleading guilty to selling methamphetamine.

James Ethrington was arrested in August 2019 following a traffic stop, during which Spokane police officers located nearly 5 pounds of methamphetamine and a little more than 1 pound of heroin in his car, according to court records. Investigators also discovered thousands of dollars in authentic and counterfeit cash, according to court records.

He was charged in state court, but was indicted on federal charges in February.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice followed prosecutors’ recommendations and sentenced Ethrington on Thursday in Spokane to 235 months, or a little more than 19 ½ years. Ethrington will also be required to serve five years of probation upon release.

Ethrington will seek drug treatment while in federal custody, according to court records.