Seattle – A 24-year-old member of the Tulalip Tribes was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 3 years in prison for drug and gun crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Deion Kurtis Fryberg was initially charged in Tulalip Tribal Court in 2019 before the case was referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution. Fryberg was charged federally in February 2021, and pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and possession of a stolen firearm in October 2021. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge James L. Robart imposed three years of supervised release to follow the prison term.
According to records filed in the case, in August 2019, Fryberg and an associate were arrested on the Tulalip reservation with significant quantities of methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl pills, and with supplies to help them package and distribute the drugs, including a scale and plastic baggies. At the time of his arrest officers found that Fryberg had a loaded, stolen gun in his vehicle along with ammunition. The car had been followed and stopped by Tulalip Tribes Police officers who knew Fryberg and his associate had warrants out for their arrest. Fryberg and his associate refused to exit when ordered to do so, resulting in a brief stand-off before they were arrested.
The case was investigated by the Tulalip Police Department and the FBI’s Northwestern Washington Safe Trails Task Force.
The case was prosecuted by the Task Force’s Special Assistant United States Attorney, Stacey Fernandez.
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