Spokane, WA – A Spokane man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after authorities uncovered a large-scale pill press operation capable of producing millions of fentanyl-laced tablets, officials announced this week.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, 44-year-old Timothy Gary Maddox was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice following his conviction for running a commercial pill press operation out of a residence in Spokane’s Hillyard neighborhood.
Investigators said Maddox and co-defendant Nicholas Adams obtained a commercial pill press from China and set up a makeshift narcotics lab in a basement. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) estimated the pair had enough fentanyl powder on hand to press more than two million counterfeit pills. Officials noted the supply of fentanyl seized could have been lethal to the entire population of Spokane County nearly four times over.
Authorities also reported finding methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, MDMA, marijuana, and multiple firearms, including loaded rifles, shotguns, and a handgun modified with a “Glock switch” to fire automatically. Body armor and high-capacity magazines were also recovered.
“Mr. Maddox is a career criminal who endangered the safety and health of our community with a truly lethal mix of homemade counterfeit fentanyl pills and automatic weapons,” said DEA Special Agent David F. Reames.
Maddox’s sentence includes five years of supervised release after his prison term. Adams is scheduled for trial in December 2025.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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