(Spokane, WA) Joshua Alan Berg, 47, of Spokane, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. U.S. District Court Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered that upon completion of his prison sentence, Berg be required to complete four years of supervised release.
According to court records, on February 8, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to an overdose incident in St. Regis, Montana. During that investigation Berg was identified as a person with knowledge about the incident and other agencies in the surrounding area were notified to be on the lookout for him. Officers in Shoshone County, Idaho, identified Berg shortly thereafter and attempted to stop the vehicle he was driving. Berg led officers on a high-speed pursuit, crashed his vehicle into a snowbank and fled on foot. Officers continued their pursuit and eventually arrested Berg near the abandoned vehicle. Berg possessed approximately a pound and a half of methamphetamine and a half pound of fentanyl pills when arrested, and discarded a firearm he had been carrying while officers were pursuing him. The firearm was located and retrieved by officers.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement agencies in Mineral County, Montana, and the North Idaho Narcotics Enforcement (NINE) Taskforce, which led to the charges.