SPOKANE, Wash – A man convicted of trafficking fentanyl in Spokane will spend 17 years in federal prison.
A federal judge sentenced Kenneth H. Crause to the term that also includes a lifetime of supervised release.
Federal prosecutors say Crause was already on federal supervision for drug trafficking when Spokane Police started investigating him.
When police searched his Spokane Valley home and his vehicle in October 2024, they found more 1,298 grams of powder fentanyl, 124 grams of meth and 28 grams of cocaine.
Police say they also found scales, ledgers and other items typically associated with the drug trade.
Police also seized $53,902 dollars.
Crause has a criminal history that includes robbert, bail jumping, forgery and other drug and weapons charges.
“Even while being supervised by the Court, Crause chose to engage in fentanyl trafficking, directly placing this community and others at risk,” said First Assistant United States Attorney S. Pete Serrano. “He clearly knew those risks evidenced by the protective gear he utilized while not caring for the impact on others. Through the hard work of our state and federal partners, this repeat offender will no longer be able to hurt our community.”
Spokane Police Detective Brian Eckersley expressed his pride in the work of SPD detectives for putting in long hours investigating the case.
A press release about the sentencing also said there was a child living in dangerous conditions and that residue and trash from the drug operation were left out and easy for the child to access.
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