A Honduran national residing in Des Moines, Washington, was sentenced to six years in federal prison and three years of supervised release for drug and firearm offenses. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court in Seattle, with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd announcing the outcome.
Dennis Aguilar Huisa, 37, was arrested three times over a period of 15 months for possession of fentanyl pills and powder, methamphetamine, cocaine, and a firearm. Following his third arrest, Huisa was federally indicted and has remained in custody since November 1, 2024.
During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John C. Chun commented on the dangers associated with fentanyl use: “Fentanyl is so dangerous and has destroyed so many lives…. He must have known that he was putting himself and his family at risk.”
Court records show that Puyallup Police first encountered Huisa on August 15, 2023. Officers found that the license plate on his car did not match its registration. After removing Huisa from the vehicle to investigate further, officers noticed blue pills inside the car. A subsequent search uncovered about 1,000 fentanyl pills, suspected fentanyl powder, and a scale with drug residue.
On September 7, 2024, police responded to an emergency involving a nine-month-old infant who had stopped breathing. Huisa and a woman met officers outside a box truck while holding the child. Emergency responders administered aid to revive the infant.
Investigators learned that Huisa had given the infant two doses of Narcan after suspecting exposure to fentanyl or other drugs. He consented to a search of the box truck where law enforcement found approximately 115 blue fentanyl pills. Officers also discovered fentanyl powder on Huisa’s person along with more than $16,000 in cash.
The child was transported to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital where additional Narcan doses were administered. Blood tests revealed exposure to fentanyl, amphetamine, and oxycodone; however, the child survived.
On November 1, 2024, Auburn Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit executed a search warrant at the Des Moines motel where Huisa lived. Officers found small packages of fentanyl powder prepared for sale; Huisa had attempted to flush some down the toilet upon their arrival. Additional quantities of fentanyl powder, methamphetamine, and cocaine were recovered from various locations within the room. A search of his box truck led officers to discover two kilograms of fentanyl powder and an untraceable Polymer 80 ‘ghost gun.’
Huisa faced charges by criminal complaint on March 12, 2025; he was indicted by a grand jury on March 26 that year. On November 12, he pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and money laundering.
Financial investigations showed that between July 2022 and September 2024 Huisa deposited roughly $370,000 in cash into his bank account as proceeds from drug sales.
At sentencing today Huisa addressed the court: “I am very ashamed and cannot forgive myself for what I have done to my daughter… I did not come here to deal drugs.”
Prosecutors requested an eight-and-a-half-year sentence stating: “Huisa was contacted by law enforcement on three different occasions and continued to engage in his drug trafficking activities, to the detriment of his infant daughter. Huisa appeared to be undeterred following the overdose of his child and continued to engage in the distribution of controlled substances.”
Authorities indicated that after serving his sentence Huisa will likely be deported back to Honduras.
The investigation involved cooperation among multiple agencies including Puyallup Police Department, Auburn Police Department, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Casey Conzatti prosecuted the case.
