A Mexican national with a history of drug trafficking offenses has been sentenced to 70 months in prison for his involvement in distributing illegal substances. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced the sentencing of Francisco Capado-Gonzales, aged 39, who was apprehended on October 19, 2023, in SeaTac, Washington. The sentence was delivered by Judge Kymberly K. Evanson, who highlighted the significant quantities of drugs involved.

Court documents reveal that during the fall of 2023, Capado-Gonzalez approached an individual he believed to be a potential customer but who was cooperating with law enforcement. Capado-Gonzalez and his associates promised large amounts of methamphetamine. However, when the transaction was set to occur at a motel in SeaTac on October 19, law enforcement intervened. Capado-Gonzalez attempted to escape into nearby woods but was captured.

Capado-Gonzales faced indictment by a grand jury on November 1, 2023, and entered a guilty plea on September 6, 2024. This marks his third conviction related to drug crimes; previous arrests occurred in Las Vegas in 2007 and again in 2013 for possessing heroin and cocaine as well as heroin and methamphetamine respectively. He previously served a sentence of 41 months.

Prosecutors had sought an 84-month sentence due to the role methamphetamine plays in overdose deaths within King County. They stated: “In 2023, 58% of all overdose deaths in King County involved methamphetamine." Prosecutors further noted that "Capado-Gonzalez had a leadership role in a conspiracy to distribute at least 44 pounds of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine," along with substantial amounts of heroin and cocaine.

The investigation into this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), while Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda McDowell and Michael Harder are handling prosecution duties.