SEATTLE — A Lake Stevens man was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison Wednesday in connection with a large-scale scheme to burglarize Northwest pharmacies and sell prescription drugs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Dale MacDonald, 24, also was ordered to pay more than $65,000 in restitution to the pharmacies.
MacDonald and several other Snohomish County residents burglarized the pharmacies in a two-year period between 2004 and 2006, court documents said. He admitted breaking into pharmacies in Snohomish; Everett; Salem, Ore.; and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
MacDonald and others typically cut telephone lines to disable remote alarms and stole thousands of pills of oxycodone, methadone, morphine and other narcotic drugs.
Drugs were taken to Marysville where they were sold, document said. MacDonald helped break into the businesses and remove drugs, and distributed the spoils to others in exchange for money.
The investigation is continuing and charges against additional participants are expected, said a spokeswoman for the federal attorney.
The scheme was investigated by several federal and local agencies, including the Marysville, Everett and Snohomish police departments.
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