Defendant Fled From Police, Tossing Gun, After Three Kilo Heroin Deal
A Mexican citizen who illegally possessed a firearm while dealing heroin was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to eight years in prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes. Melquiades GARCIA GONZALEZ, 29, made a series of heroin sales to a person working with law enforcement in April 2014. In May 2014, GARCIA GONZALEZ agreed to sell three kilos of heroin to an undercover officer, with the promise of additional kilos of heroin in the future. At sentencing U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said GARCIA GONZALEZ “was controlling the lives of countless other people by providing the drug for their addiction."
GARCIA GONZALEZ was arrested May 20, 2014, after attempting to deliver the three kilos of heroin to undercover officers in the parking lot of the Kent, Washington Home Depot. According to records filed in the case, GARCIA GONZALEZ drove through the parking lot at a high rate of speed narrowly missing other cars and pedestrians. Ultimately GARCIA GONZALEZ bolted from his car, and was chased on foot by officers. The officers saw GARCIA GONZALEZ throw a handgun into the bushes near a housing complex with young children playing in the yard. The weapon was a loaded Kahr.40 caliber pistol. In addition to the 3 kilos of heroin in the car, another kilo of heroin and a second loaded firearm was discovered at GARCIA GONZALEZ’ home.
On Nov. 3, 2014, GARCIA GONZALEZ pleaded guilty to Alien in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Heroin with Intent to Deliver; and Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crime.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and officers with Kent Police Department and Seattle Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs. Mr. Hobbs is a Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute gun cases in federal court.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
