SPokane, Washington – Today marks the final day of service for one of Eastern Washington’s longest-tenured federal prosecutors. Over the past thirty-three years, Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Timothy J. Ohms has served with distinction as a trial attorney and mentor within the United States Attorney’s Office.
AUSA Ohms prosecuted several significant drug trafficking cases as well as violent crime cases arising in Eastern Washington. He also was at the forefront of prosecuting cases involving wildlife and Native American artifacts. Over the course of his career, AUSA Ohms tried more than forty cases to a verdict and argued eighty-six cases in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
In 1992, AUSA Ohms and former AUSA Rolf Tangvald successfully prosecuted Barbara Fraley and Phil W. Champagne in connection with federal counterfeiting charges. The case involved the passing of a single counterfeit federal reserve note by Fraley at what was then a Perkins Restaurant in Ritzville, leading to a $1.5 million insurance payout to Champagne’s family. The case was the subject of a 1995 book by Burl Barer.
In 1995, AUSA Ohms was a member of the prosecutorial team in United States v. Antero Carreno. The case was part of a larger investigation of organized drug trafficking in Northcentral Washington, involving the smuggling of 100 kilograms of cocaine into Canada.
In 2001, AUSA Ohms was the trial attorney in United States v. John Calvert. Calvert had been hired to retaliate against an elderly resident of Spokane who had testified in another federal case. Calvert was convicted on all counts charged against him and received a lengthy prison sentence.
In 2002, AUSA Ohms led an investigation of crack cocaine distribution by members of the Rolling 20s Crips street gang in the Browne’s Addition neighborhood of Spokane. The investigation involved the simultaneous service of 23 search warrants at the apartment complex and led to the conviction of 15 people involved in the criminal enterprise.
In 2010, AUSA Ohms led the prosecution team in United States v. Clarence Stensgar, wherein Stensgar was convicted of raping two women on the Colville Indian Reservation. For this pattern of sexual abuse, Stensgar was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison.
In 2011, AUSA Ohms and his trial partner, AUSA Tyler Tornabene, obtained a guilty verdict against Ricky S. Wahchumwah and Victoria Jim, who were convicted at trial for selling bald and golden eagle parts in violation of the Lacey Act. Wahchumwah, Jim, and other co-defendants had been illegally poaching bald and golden eagles by using horse and deer carcasses for bait.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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