A Tacoma man has been sentenced to 52 months in prison by a U.S. District Court in Seattle. The man, identified as David A. McKean, was convicted for smuggling and distributing drugs within a federal detention facility.
Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced the sentence, which covers McKean's actions at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac ("FDC-SeaTac"). McKean was found to have brought fentanyl and heroin into the prison, concealed within his body, and distributed the substances to other inmates.
"McKean's conduct was a serious offense," said U.S. District Judge John H. Chun during the sentencing hearing. He emphasized the importance of keeping deadly drugs out of penal institutions.
Court documents reveal McKean's illicit activities began at a supervised release hearing on September 8, 2023, in Tacoma. He appeared with drugs on his person and was detained at FDC-SeaTac, where he managed to smuggle drugs into the facility by swallowing them.
Shortly after arriving at the facility, McKean distributed the contraband. Two inmates experienced near-fatal fentanyl poisonings shortly after receiving the drugs. The first overdose occurred on the night of September 9, 2023, while the second followed the next morning. In both instances, interventions including naloxone were necessary to reverse the overdoses, with one inmate requiring hospitalization.
Following these incidents, a search of McKean's cell by Bureau of Prisons staff revealed heroin, fentanyl, suboxone, and other suspected contraband.
Aside from smuggling charges, McKean was also sentenced for 28 supervised release violations stemming from a prior federal conviction. His sentence includes four months for these violations and 48 months for the contraband charge.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) conducted the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Dane A. Westermeyer is prosecuting the case.