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Description: Spokane, Washington criminal law lawyer represented Defendant charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 or More Grams of Methamphetamine and two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which provides:
(g) It shall be unlawful for any person—
(1) who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;
(2) who is a fugitive from justice;
(3) who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802));
(4) who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution;
(5) who, being an alien—
(A) is illegally or unlawfully in the United States; or
(B) except as provided in subsection (y)(2), has been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa (as that term is defined in section 101(a)(26) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(26)));
(6) who has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions;
(7) who, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced his citizenship;
(8) who is subject to a court order that—
(A) was issued after a hearing of which such person received actual notice, and at which such person had an opportunity to participate;
(B) restrains such person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner of such person or child of such intimate partner or person, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the partner or child; and
(C)(i) includes a finding that such person represents a credible threat to the physical safety of such intimate partner or child; or
(ii) by its terms explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against such intimate partner or child that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury; or
(9) who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence,
to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess in or affecting commerce, any firearm or ammunition; or to receive any firearm or ammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
On February 24, 2021, Guillermo Valdez, age 34, from Moses Lake, Washington, participated in a residential burglary in Spokane County, Washington, during which Valdez stole eleven firearms. Valdez, along with a co-defendant, trafficked the stolen firearms, one of which was used during a homicide of a child in Othello, Washington, days after the burglary on February 27, 2021. Later, on April 2, 2021, a trooper with the Washington State Patrol attempted to pull Valdez over. Valdez, while driving 90-100 miles per hour, was observed throwing a bag which contained a pistol and 822 grams of methamphetamine from the vehicle. Valdez was detained while hiding in a tree after crashing his vehicle through a fence. Further, on July 7, 2021, Valdez was arrested at his residence in Moses Lake, Washington. Valdez’s residence was searched and 604 grams of methamphetamine was recovered, some from inside his minor child’s bedroom.
United States Attorney Waldref, who is the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in the Eastern District of Washington, stated, “Mr. Valdez endangered his community by distributing large quantities of illegal narcotics, trafficking in stolen firearms, leading police on a high speed chase, and keeping distribution quantities of methamphetamine in a child’s bedroom. Here, Mr. Valdez’s distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms directly led to the homicide of a child and placed another child in danger. I’m grateful for the joint efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement, who helped bring Mr. Valdez to justice and who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe and our neighborhoods strong.”
Assistant United States Attorney Earl A. Hicks, who was one of the lead prosecutors on the case, stated after the sentencing, “I’m grateful for the law enforcement team that investigated this case. Each day, these agents and officers serve their community, and they often do so at significant personal sacrifice. I’m honored to serve alongside such dedicated public servants as we work together to address violent crime and drug distribution in Eastern Washington.”
“Mr. Valdez’s brazen conduct clearly warranted this significant sentence,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “ATF is committed to keeping members of our communities safe from violent criminals such as Mr. Valdez.”
“We will continue to work with our partners at all levels to ensure individuals like Mr. Valdez no longer threaten the health and safety of our communities,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division.
These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the Othello Police Department, the Moses Lake Police Department, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and the Washington State Patrol. These cases were prosecuted by Earl A. Hicks and Michael J. Ellis, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.
Outcome: Incarceration: 120 months as to Count 2 to run concurrent to sentence imposed in 2:21-CR-0159-TOR; Supervised Release: 3 years to run concurrent to sentence imposed in 2:21-CR-0159-TOR; Fine: Waived due to inability to pay; Special Penalty Assessment: $100.00.
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