On February 19, 2025, Nicholas J. Kloepfel, a 41-year-old from Graham, Washington, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice also imposed three years of supervised release following the prison term.
Court documents revealed that on January 20, 2024, officers from the Airway Heights Police Department identified Kloepfel at a hotel in Airway Heights. Kloepfel had a significant history related to drug trafficking and was already on federal supervised release after serving over 190 months for prior convictions involving firearms and drug trafficking. An active warrant existed for his arrest due to multiple violations of his federal supervised release. Officers subsequently conducted a traffic stop nearby and arrested him.
Investigators obtained a state search warrant and searched Kloepfel’s vehicle, which was linked to an ongoing drug investigation in Eastern Washington. They discovered three loaded handguns, ammunition, a fake silencer, small quantities of drugs, and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. Due to his extensive criminal record, Kloepfel was prohibited from possessing firearms.
During sentencing arguments, Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Barker noted that "Mr. Kloepfel asserted that he possessed the firearms and drugs because of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder," claiming it stemmed from past incarceration and being a gang dropout. He even compared himself to Vietnam veterans—a comparison Barker described as "offensive," echoing sentiments shared by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter during the hearing.
Deputy Associate Director Tom Atkinson of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) commented on the case: “The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) deeply values its strong partnership with the Kalispel Tribe, which acted swiftly to address this matter." He emphasized that "the heightened sentence of this repeat offender underscores the gravity with which Indian Country law enforcement treats crimes committed on and in connection to their lands.” Atkinson added that "the offender's lack of remorse highlights the necessity of addressing such cases."
The investigation was carried out by the Kalispel Tribal Police and Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter.