Fentanyl Fiend Gets 7 Years in Spokane Shooting Case

SPOKANE, WA – Sean James Edwards, 34, is headed to federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute 40 Grams of Fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Mary K. Dimke handed down an 84-month sentence, followed by four years of supervised release, to the man linked to a shooting and a trail of illegal firearms and narcotics.

The trouble began early November 3, 2022, when Spokane Sheriff’s Deputies responded to reports of gunfire in the 515 S. Farr Road area. A resident reported a gunshot and a bullet hole in his window. What deputies found was a wrecked black Kia Rio slammed into a parked car – and a whole lot more. A rifle and a loaded magazine were in plain sight on the passenger seat, alongside a spent shell casing.

Witnesses told deputies they saw two figures, later identified as Edwards and a female accomplice, fleeing the crash scene. The Kia Rio was impounded and subjected to a thorough search. That search turned up not only the initial rifle but also a loaded pistol, multiple magazines brimming with ammunition, Edwards’s Montana State ID, two iPhones, methamphetamine, and a staggering 1,400+ fentanyl pills packaged for street distribution. A backpack full of drug paraphernalia completed the grim picture.

“This case demonstrates the dangerous nexus of drug trafficking and violent crime,” stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref. “Mr. Edwards ran from the scene, leaving behind fentanyl he planned to distribute and weapons he was not legally allowed to possess.” Waldref emphasized the importance of removing such sources of illicit fentanyl from the streets to bolster community safety.

Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office, echoed that sentiment. “Every one of the fentanyl pills discovered in the vehicle had the potential to destroy lives,” Collodi said. “It is a relief law enforcement was able to find them first and remove them from the community.” The investigation was conducted by the FBI Spokane Regional Safe Streets Task Force, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Cashman.

This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts and community partnerships. The PSN focuses on fostering trust, supporting community organizations, strategic enforcement, and measurable results. Details about PSN can be found at Justice.gov/PSN. Edwards’ sentence sends a clear message: Spokane streets are no place for fentanyl traffickers and those who resort to violence to protect their illicit operations.