A Bellingham woman who played a significant role in a Whatcom County fentanyl trafficking ring has been sentenced to 4 years in prison.
Natasha Parkhill, 38, pleaded guilty in March 2024 and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones on [date].
Parkhill was a redistributor for the fentanyl distribution ring, which was actively moving the deadly substance from the Seattle area to redistributors in Bellingham.
Law enforcement officers observed various drug transactions and interdicted the drug loads, including one instance where two people involved with the drug ring overdosed on fentanyl at a mini-mart and had to be revived and transported to the hospital.
Parkhill was also observed engaging in drug sales and fled from law enforcement in January 2023, but was eventually taken into custody after her car suffered a mechanical problem.
At the time of her arrest, Parkhill had approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills and over $1,300 in cash.
Lummi Nation Chairman Anthony Hillaire spoke at Parkhill’s sentencing hearing, emphasizing the devastating impact of fentanyl on the community. ‘Drug dealing is a crime that is very much intentional and for monetary gain at the expense of familial loss,’ he said.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Whatcom County Drug and Gang Task Force, with assistance from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Lummi Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.
Related Federal Cases
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- James Edward Sweat, Gun and Fentanyl Trafficking, Norfolk VA, 2025 · Virginia
- Leon Henderson Sentenced to 20 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking, Seat… · Washington
- David Reyes Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking, WV, 2024 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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