SHAWN ANTHONY PIMPLETON, 31, of Seattle, Washington, was sentenced today to 121 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Possession of Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. PIMPLETON was first arrested in December 2007, following a traffic stop. Seattle Police found PIMPLETON had four ounces of crack cocaine and a loaded Glock, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol stuffed in his pockets. Less than two weeks later, December 23, 2007, PIMPLETON was again pulled over by police. He was found to have a dealer size quantity of marijuana, as well as ammunition for a 40 caliber Smith and Wesson firearm. PIMPLETON pleaded guilty on March 14, 2008. U.S. District Judge James L. Robart imposed the sentence.

According to records filed in the case, PIMPLETON has previous convictions in King County Superior Court involving guns, drugs and violence. PIMPLETON has two convictions for assault, and four convictions involving illegal drugs. PIMPLETON has a conviction from 1997 for illegal gun possession. Until today, the longest sentence PIMPLETON had served was a year in jail.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Andy Colasurdo pointed out in his sentencing memo that these short sentences had not stopped PIMPLETON’s criminal behavior. “...it appears that the consequences were never severe enough to motivate him to change his behavior,” Mr. Colasurdo wrote he hoped “that this sentence will provide (PIMPLETON) with the necessary incentive to change his ways once he is released.”

PIMPLETON was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program. Unveiled by President George W. Bush in May 2001, Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), is a comprehensive and strategic approach to gun law enforcement. PSN is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in America by networking both new and existing local programs that target gun crime and then providing them with the resources and tools they need to succeed. Implementation at the local level -- in this case, in King County-- has fostered close partnerships between federal, state and local prosecutors and law enforcement.

The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Andy Colasurdo. Mr. Colasurdo is a Deputy King County Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute gun crimes in federal court.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.

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