By Pepper Fisher
Seattle – Two of three defendants charged in a failed attempt to smuggle more than 400 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of fentanyl powder into Canada appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle Wednesday.
32-year-old Erika Bocelle of Providence, Rhode Island and 65-year-old John Sherwood of Idaho appeared on an indictment connected to the April 2021 discovery of some $7 million of illegal drugs found on the beach near Port Angeles.
Bocelle, Sherwood and a third defendant, 45-year-old Kevin Gartry of British Columbia are charged with possession of, and conspiracy to distribute, controlled substances, and conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
All three defendants are in custody on unrelated charges and are being brought to western Washington on the indictment returned in August 2022.
On April 7, 2021, beachcombers near Port Angeles reported a black duffel bag with drugs inside. The Clallam County Sheriff’s office took possession of the bag, found to contain 2 pounds of fentanyl powder and nearly 60 pounds of methamphetamine. Just days later, a different beach walker reported another find – seven more duffel bags containing 342 pounds of methamphetamine.
The Sheriff’s Office estimated the street value of the drugs as nearly $7 million.
Due to the large quantity of drugs involved, the defendants face a mandatory minimum ten years to life in prison.
(CCSO photo)