Man sentenced to five years in prison

SPOKANE — A local man has been sentenced to five years in prison and five years of parole in connection with a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

David Lee Fullmer, 61, of Spokane was sentenced March 6 by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice.

Fullmer previously pleaded guilty to the charge.

Court records show that the investigation into Fullmer began in November 2022, when the FBI identified David Velasquez in Phoenix, Ariz., as a link in a drug distribution network in Eastern Washington.

Using cell phone data, the FBI determined Fullmer and Velasquez were in regular contact, records show. They also arranged two meetings in Brigham City, Utah.

On. Aug. 10, 2023, Fullmer rented a Dodge Ram in Spokane, and headed to Blackfoot, Idaho, records show. On Aug. 11, he met Velasquez there; agents following the suspects witnessed a package handoff.

Fullmer returned to Spokane County, where he was stopped Aug. 12 at a watercraft inspection station on Interstate 90, records show. FBI agents responded, searched the vehicle and located a backpack containing a stolen 9 mm pistol, ammunition and a package of approximately 18,000 multicolored fentanyl pills, records show. They also located a cell photo with text messages about distribution of the pills.

Agents also searched Fullmer's home, and located multiple bags containing a total of about 1,000 more pills, two digital scales, a shotgun, rifle and ammunition, records show.

Velasquez was arrested in Iowa and is currently facing separate drug trafficking charges, records show.