David Allen Vickers, 53, of Yakima, Washington, has been sentenced to 150 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian also ordered Vickers to serve three years of federal supervised release after his prison term.
Court records show that between 1991 and 2020, Vickers was convicted of several offenses including driving under the influence, residential burglary, various degrees of assault, drug-related crimes, obstruction, forgery, and previously being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In 2020, Vickers faced new charges in state court for residential burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude police, and third degree assault. He was allowed to participate in the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (SOSA) program on May 17, 2023.
On June 21, 2023, while under state community custody supervision related to those charges, Yakima Police found Vickers asleep behind the wheel on a roadway. Officers believed he was intoxicated and asked him to perform a field sobriety test. As he exited his vehicle, an officer saw what appeared to be Vickers tossing a gun into the backseat. A search warrant led officers to find a loaded firearm and several pills in his pocket. Officers discovered his extensive criminal record and that he had violated SOSA conditions.
A federal Grand Jury indicted Vickers for being a felon in possession of a firearm on September 12, 2023. He pleaded guilty on July 29, 2025. Despite objections from prosecutors, he was released but soon removed his GPS monitor and fled. The U.S. Marshals Service apprehended him in western Washington in early August 2025.
First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano stated: “It is well established that law-abiding American citizens have a Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Law-abiding citizens who own firearms are often fierce advocates for gun safety and routinely support restricting dangerous felons from possessing firearms. Mr. Vickers is not such a person. He possessed illegal drugs and has more than 30 prior misdemeanor and/or felony convictions. His conduct makes him a danger to the community and has justifiably resulted in him being prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms. The United States Attorney’s Office is dedicated to defending all citizens’ rights under our Constitution, and to seeking appropriate accountability for individuals who pose a danger to the community.”
Another official added: “Mr. Vickers’ criminal history is staggering, and his habitual disregard for the law shows he has not learned from his prior sentences. By holding offenders like Mr. Vickers accountable, ATF, our law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are helping protect our communities and reinforcing that those who illegally possess firearms and endanger public safety will be held accountable.”
The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Yakima Police Department (YPD), Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC), and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Hanlon prosecuted the case.
