Prosecutors to seek criminal forfeiture charges
KEITH COUSINS/Staff writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 1 month AGO
COEUR d'ALENE — Federal prosecutors will pursue criminal forfeiture, rather than civil, against a prominent Coeur d'Alene doctor and his wife in connection to a multi-state drug ring bust.
Wendy Olson, United States Attorney for the District of Idaho, clarified a previous article in The Press that stated Dr. Stanley Toelle, 61, and his 51-year-old wife, Loren, would be subject to civil forfeiture. Olson said criminal forfeiture is contingent on the Toelles being convicted in federal court on charges ranging from money laundering to distribution of controlled substances.
Dr. Toelle was charged with conspiracy to launder money and faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Loren Toelle was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and 13 counts of conspiracy to launder money. She faces up to 60 years in prison if found guilty.
Kootenai Health spokesperson Kim Anderson identified Dr. Toelle as a gastroenterologist and said the hospital has placed him on precautionary leave.
Both were indicted in federal court in January, along with five other individuals. An eighth defendant, Jessica Nadine Frederick, 27, of Liberty Lake, Wash., remains a fugitive.
The indictment alleges the organization has generated at least $1.3 million in drug proceeds since 2009. In addition to cash proceeds, the indictment also seeks forfeiture of numerous pieces of real property, vehicles, and bank accounts that were used to facilitate the organization’s drug trafficking or were obtained with the organization’s drug proceeds.
Loren Toelle, Steven Jackson, Sean Jackson, Robert Hill, and Jessica Frederick were also indicted on separate drug distribution charges relating to controlled purchases of heroin and oxycodone that law enforcement made from the individuals throughout the investigation.
Dr. Toelle is scheduled for a jury trial in federal court on March, 14. Loren Toelle and her son, Sean Jackson, are being transported by U.S. Marshals to Coeur d'Alene and will make their first appearance in federal court when they arrive.
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