Cd'A doctor arrested in alleged drug ring
COEUR d’ALENE — A prominent Coeur d’Alene doctor was among seven people arrested in a multi-state drug ring bust on Thursday.
The seven include Dr. Stanley Toelle, 61, and his wife, Loren, 51. Charges range from conspiring to distribute heroin and other controlled substances, and conspiracy to engage in money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney office in Coeur d’Alene.
Kootenai Health spokesperson Kim Anderson identified Dr. Toelle as a gastroenterologist and said the hospital has placed him on precautionary leave.
The multi-state drug trafficking ring allegedly included Steven Wayne Jackson, 30; Sean Lee Jackson, 27; Robert Lamar Hill, 54 and Kristin Rene Wilson, 28, all of Las Vegas, Nev.
Dr. Toelle was arrested for alleged involvement in the money laundering conspiracy along with Sherlann Simon, 34, of North Las Vegas.
The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 20 in Coeur d’Alene.
An eighth defendant, Jessica Nadine Frederick, 27, of Liberty Lake, Wash., remains a fugitive.
The indictment alleges that the organization has generated at least $1.3 million in drug proceeds since 2009. In addition to cash proceeds, the indictment also seeks forfeiture of numerous pieces of real property, vehicles, and bank accounts that were used to facilitate the organization’s drug trafficking or were obtained with the organization’s drug proceeds.
Loren Toelle, Steven Jackson, Sean Jackson, Robert Hill, and Jessica Frederick were also indicted on separate drug distribution charges relating to controlled purchases of heroin and oxycodone that law enforcement made from the individuals throughout the investigation.
On Thursday, in a coordinated effort by state, local and federal law enforcement, 18 search warrants were executed in Idaho, Nevada, and North Dakota.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute heroin, oxycodone, and methamphetamine carries a mandatory minimum charge of at least 10 years and not more than life; a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
Each charge of distribution of oxycodone and heroin is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release.
The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.
“Prescription drug abuse, and the addiction to opiates and heroin, is a growing national problem and a growing Idaho problem,” U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson said in a press release. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are prepared to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who distribute these dangerous drugs in our community.”
The charges are the result of a long-term investigation by the FBI North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force into the family organization that is allegedly responsible for distributing heroin, oxycodone, and methamphetamine in Coeur d’Alene, Spokane, Las Vegas, Missoula, and various areas of North Dakota including Williston, Fargo, and the area in and around the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.
The arrests and indictment are the result of a joint investigation and cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, including the FBI, North Idaho Violent Crime Task Force, the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Post Falls Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Marshal Service and Department of Homeland Security.
Other agencies involved include the Williston, N.D., Police Department; Divide County Sheriff’s Office K9s; the United States Attorney’s Offices in Las Vegas, Nev., and North Dakota; the FBI in North Dakota; Williams County Sheriff’s Office; U.S. Border Patrol; North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation; Northwest Narcotics Task Force; the Washington State Patrol; the U.S. Marshal Service in Las Vegas; IRS in Las Vegas and the DEA in Las Vegas.