Executive Summary
- Anthony Raymond Dodd received a 10-year sentence for fentanyl distribution and possessing a firearm while in custody.
- Philip Boorkman was sentenced to six years for trafficking meth and fentanyl linked to the Aryan Family prison gang.
- Marquise Tolbert received 39 months for firearms charges; he was previously acquitted of murder in a high-profile Seattle shooting.
- Federal judges cited the immense community harm caused by the proliferation of fentanyl and armed trafficking networks.
Federal judges in Western Washington have sentenced three men to prison terms ranging from 39 months to 10 years following their convictions for drug trafficking and firearms violations, according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The sentencings, which took place in October, conclude separate investigations involving fentanyl distribution, organized crime connections, and illegal weapon possession.
The longest sentence was imposed on Anthony Raymond Dodd, 36, who received a 10-year prison term. According to court documents, Dodd was convicted of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John H. Chun emphasized the severity of the offenses, noting the extreme danger fentanyl poses to the community and highlighting that Dodd possessed a firearm while under Department of Corrections custody for a prior offense.
In a separate case, Philip Boorkman was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking network connected to the Aryan Family prison gang. Prosecutors stated that Boorkman was a trusted member of an organization responsible for distributing hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine and hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills. Chief Judge David Estudillo remarked at the sentencing that the damage caused by such distribution is “immeasurable in terms of lives lost and all of the ripple effects from people who are addicted.” Boorkman pleaded guilty in January 2025 after being indicted in March 2023.
The third defendant, Marquise Tolbert, 30, of Tacoma, was sentenced to 39 months in prison on October 1 for drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession. Court records indicate that law enforcement identified Tolbert through wiretaps where he discussed purchasing a Ruger firearm and referenced a shootout in Federal Way. Tolbert was previously involved in a fatal shootout in downtown Seattle at 3rd Avenue and Pine Street, which resulted in the death of one woman and injuries to seven bystanders. While he was acquitted of murder and assault charges in state court regarding that incident, he was convicted of the illegal firearms possession charges that led to this federal sentence.
Judicial Enforcement Strategy
These sentencings underscore the continued prioritization by federal authorities of cases involving the intersection of narcotics distribution and firearms. By securing significant prison terms for individuals involved in the logistics of the fentanyl trade—particularly those with gang affiliations or histories of violence—the judiciary aims to disrupt the supply chains contributing to the opioid crisis in the Pacific Northwest. The cases illustrate the strategic use of federal firearm statutes to secure convictions against defendants who may have evaded consequences in other jurisdictions or for other alleged crimes.
