Butte County Man Is Sentenced for Heroin Distribution and Being A Felon In Possession of a Firearm

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin Wagner announced that Seth Michael Bertolini, 44, of Chico, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to six years and five months for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for drug trafficking. Bertolini was convicted on January 15, 2015.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chico Police Department, and the Butte County Interagency Narcotics Task. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rodriguez prosecuted the case.

On June 4, 2014, law enforcement in Chico stopped Bertolini for driving with his car’s radio system playing loudly. During the stop, Bertolini emerged from his car animated and agitated. He then turned and fled. After a foot pursuit, Bertolini was caught and found to possess on his person and in his car heroin that was packaged for distribution and a fully loaded Smith and Wesson .32-caliber revolver. During a later search of Bertolini's residence, Bertolini was found to possess additional heroin, trafficking paraphernalia, and another gun, a Ceska Zbrojovka, 7.62 mm, semi-automatic pistol.