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Drug sales garner prison time

David Cole | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 6 months AGO
by David Cole
| April 24, 2012 9:15 PM

COEUR d'ALENE - Two Coeur d'Alene residents on Monday were sentenced in U.S. District Court in Coeur d'Alene for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and launder money.

Christopher B. McFarland, 49, the former owner of Chillers bar at 1920 E. Sherman Ave. (now the Hogfish), was ordered to serve four years in prison and spend five years on supervised release. He already forfeited ownership of the bar.

McFarland had a criminal record before he was indicted in this case.

Co-defendant Lecia D. O'Neill, 46, was ordered to spend a year in prison, serve 10 months in home confinement, and spend eight years on supervised release.

McFarland and O'Neill were tied to each other by a cocaine ring that operated in Coeur d'Alene.

Both will be self-surrendering to authorities to begin serving their sentences.

U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge sentenced the two, following their earlier guilty pleas.

One year ago, O'Neill's husband, James R. O'Neill, 50, of Coeur d'Alene, was ordered to serve 15 years in federal prison for his involvement in the drug ring.

Authorities have said Chillers was used in part as a location for drug transactions.

The cocaine ring's supplier, Manuel Rivera, 36, of Tri-Cities, Wash., was ordered to serve nine years in prison.

Others tied to the drug ring have also admitted guilt and been sentenced, closing the case.

The members of the ring were indicted in May 2010.

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