Felon with Long Criminal History Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Possession of Stolen Pistol Defendant Arrested at Sea-Tac With Stolen Gun in Checked Baggage

ERNEST A. WHITE, 58, a Seattle area resident with ties to Marrero, Louisiana, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to eight years in prison and three years of supervised release for Possession of a Stolen Firearm. On July 16, 2009, WHITE was questioned at Sea-Tac Airport after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers spotted a 9 mm semi-automatic Glock pistol in WHITE’s checked luggage. WHITE admitted the gun was his. Further investigation revealed the gun had been stolen in Louisiana. At sentencing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour remarked that the long sentence was necessary to protect the public.

WHITE has a lengthy criminal history including convictions for two armed robberies, attempted murder and aggravated battery in Louisiana. In Washington he has convictions for assault in 1998 and 2004. These convictions mean he cannot legally possess a firearm. After WHITE was first contacted about the gun at Sea-Tac, he was released and for a few weeks attempted to elude arrest. He was arrested on August 20, 2009, after being tracked down by the FBI. WHITE gave the officers a false name and tried to convince them he was not the person they were seeking.

The case was investigated by the FBI, Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), the Seattle Police Department, and the Port of Seattle Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Dion.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@USDOJ.Gov.