Street Gang Member Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that David Navarrete, age 25, of Prosser, Washington, was sentenced today after having pleaded guilty on March 21, 2019, to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge Lonny R. Suko sentenced Navarrete to a 96-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 4-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison.

According to information disclosed during court proceedings, Navarrete, a Bell Garden Locos street gang member, was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by a Prosser Police Department officer. The driver was arrested for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. During the traffic stop, officers observed Navarrete making furtive movements in the center console area of the vehicle. After obtaining a warrant to search the truck, officers found a plastic bag containing over 200 grams of methamphetamine in a hidden compartment in the center console. The plastic bag was submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Crime Laboratory for analysis. The FBI determined the plastic bag contained traces of Navarrete’s DNA.

U.S. Attorney Hyslop said, “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington commends the law enforcement officers with the Prosser Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated this case. Their seamless partnership resulted in the successful outcome of this matter. The sentence imposed by the court removes a drug trafficker from our streets and sends a clear message to others who may choose to engage in such criminal activity.”

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 the 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Prosser Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Patrick J. Cashman, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.