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Date: 08-09-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Daniel Rodriguez-Santos
Case Number: 1:18-cr-02042-SMJ-1
Judge: Salvado Mendoza, Jr.
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington (Spokane County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Benjamin D. Seal
Defendant's Attorney: Kenneth D. Therrien and Michael Stephen Prince
Description:
Spokane, WA - Drug Trafficker Who Possessed Firearm Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison
Daniel Rodriguez-Santos, age 38, of Yakima, Washington, was sentenced after having been convicted after a 2-day jury trial in May 2019, of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Salvador Mendoza, Jr., sentenced Rodriguez-Santos to a 12-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, law enforcement officers with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and the Yakima Police Department obtained a warrant to search Rodriguez-Santos’ residence. During execution of the warrant, officers found a large quantity of methamphetamine and a .380 caliber handgun and ammunition in his bedroom closet.
United States Attorney Hyslop said, “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington is, and will continue to be, committed to prosecuting aggressively and seeking appropriate punishment for individuals who may engage in drug trafficking and firearm-related offenses. I commend the DEA and Yakima Police Department officers for their tireless efforts in combating drug trafficking and related offenses in our community.”
This case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for violent crime in the Eastern District of Washington and pursue criminal prosecution.
This case was investigated by the Yakima Resident Office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Yakima Police Department.
Outcome: 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(viii) - POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE 50 GRAMS OR MORE OF A MIXTURE OR SUBSTANCE CONTAINING METHAMPHETAMINE
(1) Imprisonment: 84 months on Count 1, and 60 months on Count 2, consecutive, for a total of term of 144 months; Supervised Release: 5 years on Count 1, and 3 years on Count 2, concurrent with each other, for a total of 5 years; SPA: $100.00 with respect to each of Counts 1 and 2 for a total of $200.00; Fine: Waived
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) - POSSESSION OF FIREARM IN FURTHERANCE OF DRUG TRAFFICKING CRIME
(2) Imprisonment: 84 months on Count 1, and 60 months on Count 2, consecutive, for a total of term of 144 months; Supervised Release: 5 years on Count 1, and 3 years on Count 2, concurrent with each other, for a total of 5 years; SPA: $100.00 with respect to each of Counts 1 and 2 for a total of $200.00; Fine: Waived