Jason M. Frierson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada
A man from Missoula, Montana, Cory Spurlock, has been sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in a series of violent crimes, including murder-for-hire conspiracy, witness tampering by killing, stalking resulting in death, and charges related to firearms and drug trafficking. United States District Judge Miranda Du delivered the sentence following Spurlock's conviction.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada commented on the case: “There were no bounds on the defendant’s cruel and violent actions. There is no parole in the federal system. The defendant will never walk outside of the prison walls. I want to thank our federal and local partners for relentlessly pursuing this case and ensuring justice for the families and community.”
Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Division said: “This was a horrific act of targeted violence. Spurlock's callous and blatant disregard for human life was unconscionable. The FBI will never stop pursuing those who threaten our communities' safety. Thanks to the tireless work of our FBI personnel in the Reno Resident Agency and our committed law enforcement partners, Spurlock was located, prosecuted, and will not harm another person in our community again.”
Court documents and evidence presented during a four-week jury trial showed that Spurlock operated an illegal marijuana distribution business based in Mound House, Nevada. On June 19, 2020, during a marijuana transaction in Mound House, Jered Stefansky went missing after traveling from Redding to collect a large sum of cash. Investigators traced Stefansky’s last phone call to a number associated with Spurlock.
Stefansky’s mother remained active in searching for her son and appeared on a podcast discussing his disappearance and naming individuals involved with him in the marijuana operation, including Will Larsen and Spurlock. Testimony revealed that after listening to this podcast, Spurlock believed Larsen had betrayed him. He then promised payment to a co-conspirator for assistance in killing Larsen.
In November 2020, Spurlock traveled with two co-conspirators across Nevada and California as they stalked Larsen and his wife throughout the Reno-Carson City area before following them near Bridgeport, California. On November 8, 2020, both Will Larsen and Yesenia Arriaga Larsen were shot and stabbed to death; their bodies were found beside US Highway 395. Spurlock also robbed Larsen during this incident. In March 2021, Stefansky’s skeletal remains were discovered at Rye Patch Recreation Area in Pershing County.
Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division overseeing Nevada stated: “This case exposed the ruthless nature of a drug criminal, whose streak of violence could not be quelled. Cory Spurlock, while running an illegal, large-scale marijuana distribution business, stopped at nothing to trample rivals or perceived threats. Today’s sentencing stops him from further terrorizing our neighborhoods. DEA is in lockstep with local and federal partners, who remain committed to safeguarding our communities from the type of violence ushered in by drug criminals.”
Special Agent in Charge John Wester from ATF’s San Francisco Field Division added: “The violent actions conducted in this case are heinous. Public safety is at the forefront of ATF’s mission. This sentencing marks a victory for justice and sends a clear warning to those who seek to orchestrate violence within our communities that their conduct will not be tolerated. Partnerships are the backbone of law enforcement. ATF will continue to work alongside our prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to ensure crimes of this nature are investigated and brought to justice.”
Spurlock was convicted on multiple counts including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana; murder-for-hire conspiracy; tampering with a witness by killing; two counts of stalking resulting in death; interference with commerce by robbery; as well as causing death through use of a firearm during a crime of violence.
The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney Chattah along with officials from FBI Las Vegas Division (Delzotto), DEA (Chrysanthis), and ATF (Wester). The investigation involved several agencies: FBI Las Vegas Division; Mono County Sheriff’s Office; DEA; ATF; Lyon County Sheriff’s Office; Carson City Sheriff’s Office; Pershing County Sheriff’s Office; with significant support from Salt Lake City FBI Office-Missoula Resident Agency.
Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Rachow, Penelope Brady, and Andrew Keenan prosecuted the case.
