Pharmacy burglaries earn prison time

Three more Snohomish County men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a scheme to burglarize pharmacies throughout the Northwest, steal drugs and sell them.

Michael McConnell, 26, of Everett was given a two-year term on Friday following his conviction of breaking into a pharmacy in Cave Junction, Ore., the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

According to court documents, McConnell acted as a lookout while somebody else broke in and took narcotic drugs.

Alex Brand, 23, also of Everett, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute drugs.

He was sentenced to a 15-month prison term, according to the U.S. attorney.

Brand was active between 2004 and 2006 selling oxyco­done, methadone, morphine and other drugs. When Tulalip police stopped his car in 2004, officers found a loaded pistol on the car seat, as well as a second gun in a backpack containing drugs.

The third person, Corey Marquardt, 28, of Marysville was convicted of distributing drugs stolen in the burglaries. He was sentenced to more than four months behind bars.

Numerous other Snoho­mish County residents have been convicted of burglary and other crimes related to the scheme in a federal crackdown on pharmacy break-ins and robberies.

Several federal and local agencies were involved in the investigation of the three defendants, including the Marysville, Tulalip and Everett police departments, the U.S. attorney said.

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