Spokane Man Sentenced for Repeatedly Distributing Drugs in De Facto Open Air Drug Market in Downtown Spokane (DOJ)

Spokane, Washington - First Assistant Pete Serrano announced that on January 14, 2026, United States District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice, sentenced Timothy Michael Hanahan, age 38, of Spokane, Washington, to 84 months of prison distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl into the Spokane community. Judge Rice also ordered that, following his sentence, Hanahan will be on 4 years of supervised release.

According to court records, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives was conducting a crime reduction emphasis in the greater Spokane area. Hanahan, a homeless transplant from Texas using the moniker "Big Mike", was identified as a distributor of methamphetamine and fentanyl. He was known to distribute drugs near the House of Charity in downtown Spokane. Over the course of numerous interactions, Hanahan bragged to undercover law enforcement agents posing as drug customers that he had connections in Idaho and Montana, and that his "connections" were moving large volumes of drugs. Ultimately, Hanahan sold the undercover agents methamphetamine and fentanyl on several occasions and introduced the undercover agents to additional drug sources who also sold drugs to the undercover agents.

Hanahan has notable criminal history dating back almost 2 decades, to include several previous significant sex offenses as well as being an accessory to assault with a deadly weapon in Nevada, forgery and drug offenses in Texas, and most recently an assault in Spokane. Hanahan was transient living in and around the House of Charity at the time of the instant offense.

"This case shows the impact of focused, intelligence-driven enforcement," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais of the ATF Seattle Field Division. "Mr. Hanahan repeatedly brought dangerous drugs into the heart of downtown Spokane and actively expanded their distribution. This sentence disrupts a supply chain that was harming this community, and ATF is proud to work alongside our federal and local partners and the U.S. Attorney's office to target those who seek to profit from addiction and victimization."

"I applaud our partners at ATF for taking the lead in addressing crime in our community. Their investigation led to the prosecution of several individuals who victimize our community, including Mr. Hanahan who has a significant and concerning criminal history and came to our community to distribute his poison," stated Mr. Serrano.

"The outcome in this case is a prime example of why the City of Spokane is proud to partner and coordinate with our various law enforcement partners in the fight to remove fentanyl and methamphetamine dealers from our community," stated City Prosecutor Justin Bingham. "Strong partnerships are key to successfully reducing crime and safeguarding our citizens from the dangerous effects of illicit drugs."

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Border Patrol, and the Spokane Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Annika Tangvald.