Skip Navigation
USAO Home Page

Miscellaneous Press Releases

11/13/09 LE-HO
OPERATORS OF BURIEN SALON PLEAD GUILTY IN CASE INVOLVING BRIBE AND ILLEGAL IMPORT OF COSMETIC EQUIPMENT
Burien Couple Tried to Bribe FDA Officer Over Radiation Emitting Device

10/16/09 MITCHELL
LAKEWOOD MAN SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR PHARMACY ROBBERY
Prosecution Part of Federal Emphasis on Growing Pharmacy Robbery Problem

10/9/09 GRAESSER
GUILTY PLEA IN $2 MILLION PORT LUDLOW ARSON
Port Hadlock Man Admits he Set Fire Because of Jealousy over Girlfriend

9/30/09 SUDDERTH
CHEHALIS WOMAN, ON RUN FOR 13 YEARS, RETURNS TO FACE PARENTAL KIDNAPING CHARGE
Lewis County Mother to Appear in U.S. District Court in Tacoma

9/23/09 LYNCH
ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY RECOGNIZED FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
Tacoma Attorney Served as Senior Department of Justice Official in Iraq

9/15/09 SCHULTZ
THREE SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON MEN SENTENCED FOR FISHING VIOLATIONS
Two Fishermen and Fish Company Manager Face Thousands in Fines

9/9/09 SILVERMAN
CIGARETTE WHOLESALERS FACE CHARGES FOR TRAFFICKING IN UNTAXED CIGARETTES
Indictments Allege Various Suppliers Conspired to Traffic in Contraband Cigarettes

7/30/09 WILSON
CONVICTED MURDERER SENT BACK TO PRISON FOLLOWING STAND-OFF WITH POLICE
Defendant Repeatedly Violates Conditions of Release with Alcohol Abuse

7/1/09 MONTOUR
TRIBAL CIGARETTE WHOLESALER INDICTED FOR LYING TO COURT
Owner of New York Company Allegedly Submitted Multiple False Declarations in Smoke Shop Forfeiture Case

6/2/09 HOWARD
TENINO MAN INDICTED FOR HIDING A FUGITIVE AND LYING TO INVESTIGATORS
Member of the “Patriot Movement” Assists Felon Wanted in North Carolina

3/17/09 BENNEST
SUMNER MAN ORDERED TO PARTICIPATE IN MORAL RECONATION THERAPY FOR MAKING FALSE CLAIMS OF MILITARY MEDALS Man Falsely Claimed He Had Been Awarded Bronze Star and Purple Heart

3/16/09 GOODRIDGE
OPERATORS OF “BLUE STILLY” SMOKE SHOP SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR TRAFFICKING IN MILLIONS OF CONTRABAND CIGARETTES
Defendants Knowingly Failed to Pay More than $25 Million in State Taxes

3/09/09 PACHECO
TULALIP TRIBAL MEMBERS CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY AND
ASSAULT OF CANADIAN TRIBAL MEMBER
Three Defendants Beat Woman, Held Her in Car Trunk for Hours

2/27/09 PERKINS
KENT MAN SENTENCED FOR MAKING FALSE MILITARY CLAIMS IN EFFORT TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION Claimed Combat Service in Iraq and To Have Been Awarded The Purple Heart

2/24/09 BURGE
LONGVIEW MAN SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN PRISON FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT ARSON
Joined with Others to Torch Duplex After Obtaining Renter’s Insurance

2/12/09 COSTCO
COSTCO STOCK OPTION BACKDATING INVESTIGATION CLOSED
Costco Implements Enhanced Compliance Program with Independent Review

2/11/09 TURCAT-MERY
ANTIQUE FRENCH ROADSTER TO BE SHIPPED HOME TO SETTLE SEIZURE CASE
1919 Turcat-Mery, a “National Monument” of France, was Illegally Exported

12/23/08 BONNAR
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, SHERIFF’S DEPUTY ACQUITTED
ON FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS CHARGE AND PERJURY

12/17/08 BENNEST
SUMNER MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FALSE CLAIMS OF MILITARY MEDALS Claimed to be Decorated War Veteran Who Received Purple Heart and Bronze Star

12/5/08 DIRECTORS AWARD
HELLS ANGELS TRIAL TEAM RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING WORK ON RICO CONVICTION
First RICO Jury Verdicts Against Notorious Outlaw Motorcycle Club in Twenty Years

12/1/08 MA
SEATTLE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS
Defendant Falsified Audit Submitted to National Institutes of Health

11/26/08 POPESCU
HITLER 18 CT GOLD BOOKMARK RECOVERED IN STOLEN ARTIFACT STING
Seattle Area Resident Arrested After Seeking Buyer for Bookmark Stolen in Spain in 2002

11/21/08 STEELE
BELLEVUE FISH BROKER PLEADS GUILTY TO FALSELY LABELING FISH PRODUCT
Defendant will have to Publish Nationwide Apology as Part of Plea Agreement

11/20/08 GOODRIDGE
OWNERS OF “BLUE STILLY” SMOKE SHOP PLEAD GUILTY TO TRAFFICKING IN MILLIONS OF CONTRABAND CIGARETTES
Defendants Knowingly Failed to Pay More than $25 Million in State Taxes

11/18/08 FREY-NGUYEN
KING COUNTY SALON OPERATORS CHARGED WITH SEX OFFENSES
California and Washington Residents Allegedly Conspired to Transport Sex Workers From Cities Around the U.S.

11/5/08 BURGE
LONGVIEW MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT ARSON
Joined with Others to Torch Duplex After Obtaining Renter’s Insurance

10/31/08 LANMON
FORT LEWIS CAPTAIN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ACCEPTING ILLEGAL GRATUITIES WHILE SERVING IN IRAQ
Contracting Officer Took Thousands for Steering Work in Iraq

10/31/08 YAP-LIU
FOREIGN NATIONALS SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR TRANSPORTING WOMEN TO WORK AT BROTHEL
Lead Defendant Employed more than 100 Women to Work as Prostitutes

9/29/08 TODD
EVERETT MAN SENTENCED TO 26 YEAR PRISON TERM FOR SEX TRAFFICKING, AND INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION TO FURTHER PROSTITUTION - Recruited Women and Advertised Commercial Sex Acts on the Internet

9/4/08 RIVARD
KALAMA MAN SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IN PRISON FOR OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

7/18/08 KOLAR
SEATTLE WOMAN SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON IN CONNECTION WITH UW ARSON - Defendant was Active Participant in Four Arsons Including UW

6/27/08 MCMULLEN
VANCOUVER MAN SENTENCED TO HOME CONFINEMENT FOR LYING TO IRS AGENT - Defendant Failed to Disclose Timeshare and Bank Account

6/19/08 CHRISTENSEN
QUINAULT TRIBAL MEMBER SENTENCED TO 70 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR RAPE - Man with Long History of Sexual Assault Raped Ex-Girlfriend in Front of 2-year-old

6/19/08 WATERS
OAKLAND WOMAN SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN PRISON FOR 2001 ARSON AT UW CENTER FOR URBAN HORTICULTURE
Former Evergreen Student Secured Car, Served as Lookout in Firebomb Conspiracy

6/18/08 PUCKETT
COWLITZ COUNTY COUPLE PLEADS GUILTY TO DISTRIBUTING ADULTERATED MILK - Milk was Responsible for E. Coli Outbreak in 2005 in Washington and Oregon

6/17/08 COURT APPEARANCES
ENHANCED RESPONSE TO FEDERAL CRIMES IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON - Defendants Now Will Make Initial Court Appearances in Vancouver, Washington

6/04/08 BONNAR
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON SHERIFF’S DEPUTY INDICTED FOR FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION AND PERJURY

6/02/08 SULLIVAN
U.S. ATTORNEY PRESS CONFERENCE ON RESTRAINING ORDER FILED TODAY

5/21/08 TODD
EVERETT MAN CONVICTED OF SEX TRAFFICKING, MONEY LAUNDERING AND INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION TO FURTHER PROSTITUTION - Recruited Women and Advertised Commercial Sex Acts on Internet

5/16/08 BAUER
CALIFORNIA WOMAN SENTENCED FOR ASSAULT ABOARD AN AIRCRAFT AND INTERFERING WITH A FLIGHT CREW MEMBER - Woman was Intoxicated when she Assaulted Flight Attendant on Horizon Flight

5/1/08 COOLEY
TRIBAL MEMBER WITH LENGTHY CRIMINAL HISTORY SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ASSAULT ON RESERVATION - One of Four Men who Attacked Couple with Baseball Bat and Club after Failed Drug Deal

3/27/08 WATERS
OAKLAND WOMAN WILL NOT FACE NEW TRIAL ON ADDITIONAL COUNTS RELATED TO 2001 ARSON AT UW CENTER FOR URBAN HORTICULTURE - Prosecutors Decide Against Retrial on Charges Where Jury Deadlocked

3/14/08 LANDAU
BELLEVUE LAWYER INDICTED FOR MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS AND OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE IN TAX AUDIT - Lawyer Allegedly Lied to IRS Agent and Destroyed Records of Unreported Income

3/7/08 KALAMA
QUINAULT TRIBAL MEMBER SENTENCED TO 26 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR CRASH THAT CLAIMED TWO LIVES - Defendant Admitted to Driving Drunk when Car Carrying Seven Young People Crashed into River

3/7/08 RIVARD
KALAMA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CONSPIRING TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE IN FEDERAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION - Man Fabricates Evidence in Order To Implicate Another in Criminal Activity

3/6/08 WATERS
OAKLAND WOMAN FOUND GUILTY OF 2001 ARSON AT UW CENTER FOR URBAN HORTICULTURE - Former Evergreen Student Secured Car, Served as Lookout in Firebomb Conspiracy

12/19/07 BINDER
FORMER HELLS ANGEL SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR RICO - Admits Involvement in Murder of Snohomish Man in 2001

12/12/07 CASTILLO
MEXICAN NATIONAL PLEADS GUILTY TO ROBBERY OF JEWELRY COURIER - Victim Robbed at Bellevue McDonalds - Suspects Arrested after Traffic Stop on I-90

12/12/07 KALAMA
QUINAULT TRIBAL MEMBER PLEADS GUILTY IN CONNECTION WITH CRASH THAT CLAIMED TWO LIVES - Defendant Admits to Driving Drunk when Car Carrying Seven Young People Crashed into River

11/30/07 BAUER
CALIFORNIA WOMAN INDICTED FOR ASSAULT ABOARD AN AIRCRAFT AND INTERFERING WITH A FLIGHT CREW MEMBER - Woman Made Threats and Assaulted Flight Attendant on Horizon Flight from Sea-Tac to Billings

11/27/07 TODD
EVERETT MAN INDICTED FOR SEX TRAFFICKING AND INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION TO FURTHER PROSTITUTION - Man Recruited Women and Advertised Commercial Sex Acts on Internet

11/21/07 CHIU
TENNESSEE PHYSICIAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CALLING IN BOMB THREATS TO DELAY FLIGHT - Physician Called 9-1-1 Three Times From Sea-Tac Gate in Effort to Make Flight to Memphis

10/23/07 AWARDS
TWO US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EMPLOYEES RECEIVE NATIONAL AWARDS - Honored for Outstanding Contributions to Law Enforcement

9/24/07 O'FLAHERTY
SEATTLE MAN SENTENCED FOR FALSIFYING BANK RECORDS - Mislead Auditors about Financial Health of Loan Customer

9/21/07 OPERATION STOLEN VALOR
NORTHWEST CRACKDOWN ON FAKE VETERANS IN "OPERATION STOLEN VALOR" - Phony Vets Scam more than $1.4 Million and Damage Image of Honorable Veterans

9/21/07 MACBETH
TACOMA RESIDENT SENTENCED FOR MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS - Defendant Masqueraded as Decorated Vet, Making False Claims of "War Crimes"

9/20/07 BATES
SEATTLE MAN UNLAWFULLY COLLECTED VETERANS BENEFITS - Cashed His Mother's VA Benefit Check for Year after Her Death

9/17/07 FABEL
HELLS ANGELS PRESIDENT SENTENCED TO LONG PRISON TERM - Chief Judge finds "Smilin Rick" Fabel led Criminal Enterprise that "Preyed on Vulnerable"

9/14/07 COMER
KELSO MAN SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR BEATING UP A FEDERAL WITNESS - Beating in Retaliation for Cooperating with Law Enforcement

8/31/07 KHAN
EVERETT MAN SERNTENCED FOR ROLE IN ARSON DISGUISED AS A HATE CRIME - Defendant Testified Store Owner was Driving Force Behind the Crime

7/30/07 CRUZ
FORMER MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO ACCEPTING BRIBES - Civilian Em,ployee Conspired with Upholstery Shop Owner Splitting More than $50,000 from Fake Billings

7/30/07 BUDDLE
PUYALLUP MAN SENTENCED TO TEND GRAVES IN MILITARY CEMETARY FOR POSING AS MARINE CORPS CAPTAIN AND CHAPLAIN - Conducted Weddings, Funerals and Other Events Illegally Wearing Uniform and Medals for Valor

7/23/07 BINDER
FORMER HELLS ANGEL PLEADS GUILTY TO RICO - Admits Involvement in Murder of Snohomish Man in 2001

6/29/07 AKRAM
EVERETT MAN SENTENCED TO 51 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR GROCERY STORE ARSON - Pakistani Grocery Owner Tried to Make Fire Look Like Hate Crime

6/7/07 MACBETH
PHONY WAR VETERAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS - Defendant Masqueraded as Decorated Vet, Making False Claims of Service And Medals In Attempt to Qualify for Compensation

5/25/07 SHREVE/HAUG
SNOHOMISH COUNTY MEN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ARSON OF EDMONDS CONDO PROJECT AND ATTEMPTED ARSON OF BOTHELL BIOTECH - Pair Joined with Juveniles, Torching Buildings So They Could Watch Them Burn

5/22/07 BRYAN
QUINAULT TRIBAL MEMBER PLEADS GUILTY IN CONNECTION WITH KIDNAPPING AND ASSAULT - Plea Agreement Calls for Five to Seven Year Prison Sentence

5/22/07 O'FLAHERTY
SEATTLE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FALSIFYING BANK RECORDS - Mislead Auditors about Financial Health of Loan Customer

4/17/07 CTI
CELL THERAPEUTICS, INC. TO PAY UNITED STATES $10.5 MILLION TO RESOLVE CLAIMS FOR ILLEGAL MARKETING OF CANCER DRUG - Company Promoted Arsenic Drug for Cancer Treatment when Drug Had Not Been Proven to be Safe or Effective

4/5/07 BUDDLE
PUYALLUP MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSING AS MARINE CORPS CAPTAIN AND CHAPLAIN WEARING UNEARNED MEDALS OF VALOR - Conducted Weddings, Funerals and Other Events Illegally Wearing Uniform and Medals for Valor

2/21/07 AKRAM
EVERETT MAN CONVICTED OF ARSON CONSPIRACY - Grocery Owner Faked Hate Crime

1/26/07 SULLIVAN
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF JEFFREY C. SULLIVAN AS INTERIM UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON

1/25/07 MCKAY
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY JOHN McKAY JOINS SEATTLE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL - U.S. Attorney Credited with Innovative Leadership of Federal and Local Law Enforcement

1/17/07 MCKAY
US ATTORNEY PRESENTED WITH DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD - John McKay Honored by Secretary of Navy for Innovative Leadership

12/20/06 ENNASSIME
LAKEWOOD COUPLE SENTENCED FOR FORCED LABOR AND HARBORING ALIEN - Couple forced Moroccan niece to work long hours for no pay

12/14/06 MCKAY
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY JOHN McKAY ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION - Led Reorganization and Refocusing of Federal Law Enforcement Resources Following 9-11 Attacks

10/6/06 WEGERS
BANDIDOS PRESIDENT SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR RACKETEERING - Must Move from Whatcom County for Three Years

10/4/06 KOLAR
TWO DEFENDANTS ENTER GUILTY PLEAS IN CONNECTION WITH UW ARSON - Both Present at Arson; One Cut Glass to Gain Access to the Building

8/18/06 COOPER
SEVENTH MEMBER OF COUNTERFEIT TRAVELERS CHEQUE RING SENTENCED TO PRISON - Ring members passed more than $300,000 in counterfeit cheques across several states

7/31/06 PETRIDIS
CELEBRITY CRUISE CAPTAIN PLEADS GUILTY TO, AND IS SENTENCED FOR, OPERATING A CRUISE SHIP UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL - Former Captain in Fined, Placed on Probation, and Agrees to Stay Out of United States Waters as Crewmember for One Year

6/15/06 MITTEN
FORMER FEDERAL MANAGER SENTENCED TO HOME DETENTION FOR CRIMINAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST - Vancouver Man Took Cash, Gifts and Negotiated Future Employment During Business Dealings with Supplier

6/5/06 SMOKI
SEATTLE COMPANY AND CEO SENTENCED FOR ALLOWING TAINTED FISH INTO FOOD CHAIN - Company's Tainted Bait Fish was Ultimately Sold for Human Consumption

6/2/06 RUSSELL
SNOHOMISH MAN SENTENCED IN CROSS BURNING INCIDENT - Lied to a Federal Grand Jury about July 2004 Cross Burning in Edmonds

4/7/06 LIN
LYNNWOOD MAN SENTENCED IN CROSS BURNING INCIDENT - Lied to a Federal Grand Jury about July 2004 Cross Burning in Edmonds

3/30/06 WATERS
BERKELEY WOMAN INDICTED IN CONNECTION WITH 2001 ARSON AT UW CENTER FOR URBAN HORTICULTURE - Defendant allegedly aided and abetted Arson - Investigation into Fire Continues

3/10/06 SAWYER
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ILLEGALLY IMPORTING AND EXPORTING RARE REPTILES

2/17/06 SARGENT
EDMONDS MAN SENTENCED IN CROSS BURING INCIDENT; ASSOCIATES FACE SENTENCING AFTER ADMITTING THEY LIED TO FEDERAL GRAND JURY

12/16/05 MCINTOSH
New Jersey Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for McDonald's Arson - Claimed fire was on behalf of ELF and ALF

12/8/05 ECO-TERROR ATTACKS
Six Arrested in Connection with Northwest Eco-Terror Attacks - Defendants allegedly tied to fires in Washington and Oregon dating back to 1998

11/4/05 MATTHEWS
Oregon Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Vancouver, Washington Kidnap Attempt

9/28/05 MCINTOSH
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to 2003 Eco-Terror Arson at Seattle McDonald's Restaurant - Faces 8-10 Years in Prison

9/2/05 CAMPBELL/BROWN
Battle Ground Men Sentenced to Home Confinement and Probation for Making Illegal Pipe Bombs

9/2/05 DANCY
Tacoma Man Sentenced to Probation for "Straw Man" Purchase of Gun Linked to D.C. Sniper

8/12/05 CHAGGER
Canadian Lawyer Sentenced to Prison For Two Counts of Witness Tampering

8/1/05 MATTHEWS
Oregon Man Pleads Guilty to Vancouver, Washington Kidnap Attempt; Faces Up to Sixteen Years in Prison

7/22/05 PATTON
Tacoma Man Sentenced to 12 1/2 Years as "Career Offender"

7/21/05 SARGENT
Edmonds Man Pleads Guilty in Cross Burning Incident; Associates Indicted for Lying to Federal Grand Jury

6/10/05 BANDIDOS
Twenty-Six Indicted Following 2 Year Investigation of "Bandidos" Motorcycle Gang

6/6/05 KHALEGHI
Quick Action by Feds Foils International Parental Kidnaping; Bellevue Man Makes First Court Appearance Today

5/9/05 ANDERSON
Monroe Man Sentenced to Probation for Removing Artifact From Protected Historic Site

5/3/05 SMITH
Tacoma Woman Pleads Guilty to Filing a False Declaration in Her Boyfriend's Criminal Case

4/8/05 CHAGGER
Canadian Lawyer Convicted of Two Counts of Witness Tampering

3/25/05 CHOI
Los Angeles Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Human Smuggling Operation

2/23/05 HISTORIC HEARING IN SW WASHINGTON
Historic Vancouver Court Hearing Highlights Federal Focus on Southwest Washington

2/16/05 MCINTOSH
New Jersey Man Arrested in 2003 Arson at Seattle McDonald's Restaurant

1/21/05 HUGHES
Snohomish Man Sentenced to 10 Months in Prision for Resisting and Impeding Federal Officers During 31 Hour Stand-Off