Oregon Man With 2,000 Fentanyl Pills In Pasco Sentenced To Prison

PASCO COUNTY, FL — U.S. District Judge Katherine Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Johnathan Thuemler, 32, of Oregon to six years and five months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Thuemler pleaded guilty on May 15.

According to court documents, on Feb. 9, Thuemler and another person were stopped by Pasco County sheriff's deputies for a traffic infraction. During the stop, a deputy saw a loaded firearm concealed next to Thuemler.

Deputies also located 124 pressed pills which containing fentanyl inside the vehicle.

Following the stop, deputies searched Thuemler’s hotel room and located more than 2,000 additional pressed pills containing fentanyl. Thuemler and the other person admitted that they had traveled to Florida from Oregon to sell the pills.

Thuemler is a convicted felon for offenses related to the sale of heroin. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman.