Sentencings Close Drug-Smuggling Case -- Ringleaders Given Prison Terms

Yesterday's courtroom atmosphere was so full of goodwill one could almost forget the punitive purpose of the proceedings - the sentencing of the ringleaders of the largest marijuana-smuggling organization ever prosecuted in Western Washington.

The federal prosecutor was complimenting the defendants, the defendants were complimenting the government, and everybody was appropriately deferential toward U.S. District Judge John Coughenour.

As Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Bartlett said later, "You have to punish defendants for their criminal acts, and at the same time reward them for . . . (good) behavior after the act."

Getting a bit of each yesterday were five drug traffickers, including brothers William and Chris Shaffer, originally from Pittsburgh, Pa.

Their pleas were part of a "global resolution" that prosecutors acknowledge was driven largely by the brothers' cooperation.

The Shaffer ring smuggled a total of about 65 tons of Southeast Asian marijuana into Western Washington in 1986 and 1987. The ring collected a total of about $60 million in those two hauls.

William Shaffer, now 47, was arrested in Germany in January 1992 and spent nine months in prison there, while his brother Chris, now 44, remained a fugitive.

Before surrendering himself, Chris Shaffer helped collect debts owed the brothers as part of a package deal they later negotiated with the government.

Their efforts culminated in a cashier's check for $1,025,000 presented to the government yesterday as forfeited assets.

Yesterday's sentencings were the final chapter in a five-year investigation that resulted in the convictions of 47 people.

Sentenced were:

-- William Shaffer, to 13 1/2 years, followed by a five years of supervised release, for two smuggling charges and one money-laundering charge.

-- Chris Shaffer, to 12 years, followed by five years of supervised release, for three smuggling charges and one money-laundering charge;

-- Dennis Specht, 41, of Camarillo, Calif., to seven years, followed by three years of supervised release and forfeiture of $200,000, for smuggling and money-laundering.

-- Kenneth Tarlow, 42, of Santa Barbara, Calif., to six years, followed by three years of supervised release and forfeiture of $250,000, for smuggling and money-laundering.

-- Alexander Major, 45, of Santa Rosa, Calif., to four years, followed by three years of supervised release, for money-laundering.