On September 18, 2025, Israel Garcia, a 36-year-old Mexican national, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison by United States Chief District Judge Stanley A. Bastain in Spokane, Washington. Garcia pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl. He was also ordered to pay over $6,000 in restitution to the Spokane Police Department and will be subject to five years of supervised release if he returns to the United States after serving his sentence.
Court documents revealed that Garcia is a documented gang member who previously lived in Yakima, Washington. In 2015, he was convicted for assaulting federal officers during an investigation into drug and firearm trafficking and received an 84-month federal prison sentence. After his release in 2021, Garcia was deported to Mexico but returned unlawfully the following year and resumed drug trafficking activities, including distributing thousands of fentanyl pills.
The incident leading to his recent conviction occurred on October 16, 2022. According to authorities, Garcia traveled from Yakima to Spokane with the intent of delivering 10,000 fentanyl pills. When approached by Spokane Police officers attempting an arrest, Garcia exited his vehicle and opened fire at them while trying to flee. The gunfire endangered multiple law enforcement officers as well as passengers inside his vehicle—a man, a woman, and a minor child. One officer narrowly avoided being shot in the head due only to the angle of a car door window; however, he still sustained injuries to his head and face. Officers returned fire and wounded Garcia.
Garcia was under federal supervision for his prior conviction at the time of this incident. He was arrested for violating supervised release conditions before being charged with new offenses. Authorities indicated that he will be transferred for prosecution on state charges related to assaulting law enforcement officers.
Pete Serrano, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington stated: “We have zero tolerance for dangerous offenders like Garcia who pose an immediate threat to our community and our law enforcement partners. Garcia opened fire on the police in the streets of Spokane, attempting to strike several police officers. It is unconscionable that he engaged in this behavior after having just been released from prison for the same kind of violent conduct. This case highlights the importance of our partnerships between our state and federal partners and how closely we work with the Spokane County Prosecutors Office.”
David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge at DEA Seattle Field Division added: “Mr. Garcia was a menace to our community, both because of his fentanyl trafficking as well as his violent behavior,” said David F. Reames.“Prison is clearly the right place for him, and I am proud that DEA and our partners could facilitate his lengthy incarceration.”
The case involved investigations by both the Spokane Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with prosecution led by First Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter along with Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Cartier Giroux.
