Vancouver man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking; authorities say his fentanyl was linked to a Clark County overdose death

A Vancouver man whose fentanyl was linked to a fatal overdose was sentenced Friday to 10 years in federal prison for drug distribution and firearms crimes.

Joseph Anthony Cannarozzi, 41, pleaded guilty in March in US District Court in Tacoma to possession of controlled substances with the intent of distributing them and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking charges, according to a news release from the US Attorney's Office for Western Washington.

Authorities first identified Cannarozzi in May 2021 as being the source for potentially deadly fentanyl pills, one of which was linked to an east Clark County man who fatally overdosed.

“Even after his pills were connected to a death, Mr. Cannarozzi, continued to deal fentanyl. Some 10,000 pills were seized from his home,” US Attorney Tessa M. Gorman said in the news release. “That conduct, coupled with his possession of multiple firearms, justifies this significant prison sentence.”

Officers monitored Cannarozzi's Orchards area home and witnessed customers repeatedly going there for suspected drug transactions. During a search of the home in October 2021, investigators seized 10,000 fentanyl pills made to look like prescription medication, suspected steroids, records on drug distribution and six firearms, according to the US Attorney's Office.

Cannarozzi sold the drugs and steroids through an online operation called “Locked and Loaded.” Financial records indicate that more than $1 million was processed through those business accounts, according to the news release.

He was arrested by local authorities in October 2021 and charged federally in August 2022.

“The nation's ongoing fentanyl-death epidemic would not be possible without suppliers like Cannarozzi. He trafficked in large quantities of deadly fentanyl pills disguised as prescription drugs. He did this despite knowing the pills could kill. He sold those pills to (the victim) and other customers, and he kept selling the pills even after they caused (the victim's) death,” Assistant US Attorney Kristine Foerster wrote to the court.

The case was investigated by the Clark County Sheriff's Office, the Vancouver Police Department, Homeland Security Investigation and the United States Postal Service.