Amidst the Government Shutdown, the United States Attorney’s Office Continues Efforts to Combat Transnational Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that while the Government was shut down, the United States Attorney’s Office was continuing to work important cases where our communities were placed at risk due to transnational drug trafficking, violent crimes and weapons offenses. The following are impactful cases that have occurred during the shutdown.

Moses Lake, WA- Moses Lake Man Sentenced to an Additional 10 Years in Prison for Dealing Drugs from Federal Prison. On November 13, 2025, Chief District Court Judge Stanely Bastain sentenced Joshua Isaac Stine, age 40, of Moses Lake, Washington, to 120 months of incarceration following his guilty plea to Distribution of 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl. Judge Bastain ordered Stine’s sentence to commence after he finishing serving his current 20-year federal prison sentence, which was imposed for his previous significant drug trafficking in the Moses Lake area. Stine will be on 8 years of supervised release upon his release from this sentence. Evidence shows that while serving this federal prison sentence at FCI Forrest City (Arkansas), Stine utilized contraband cell phones and other methods, to facilitate the criminal enterprise “La Nuestra Familia” or “NF”, including distribution of fentanyl pills into the Moses Lake community. His criminal history dates back to 2000 and this is his 3rd federal conviction. In imposing this sentence, Judge Bastain noted Stine’s recidivism and unwillingness to change his behavior even after receiving a significant sentence. The full press release is located here.

Spokane, WA- Career Offender Convicted after Jury Trial of Sex Trafficking, Drug Trafficking, and Unlawful Possession of Firearms. James Anthony Stinson, age 55, of Spokane, Washington was convicted following a 3-day jury trial of eleven felonies pertaining to Sex Trafficking, Drug Trafficking, and Unlawful Possession of Firearms. Based on evidence presented during the jury trial, the investigation into Stinson began in 2021 following a series of controlled purchases of crack cocaine. Some of those purchases occurred from Stinson’s hotel room in Spokane Valley. Based on that information, law enforcement with the FBI, Spokane Police Department, and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Stinson’s hotel rooms and located distribution quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl pills, along with multiple illegally possessed firearms as well as evidence consistent with sex trafficking. Stinson’s phones and other digital evidence revealed videos of Stinson threatening and violently beating a commercial sex worker. Messages on Stinson’s phones revealed his ongoing use of force, fraud, and coercion, described as an “atmosphere of fear” to force multiple victims to engage in sex work for Stinson’s personal financial enrichment. Stinson was previously convicted in Washington State Superior Court for Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine), for which he served 132 months and was released in 2011. In 2012, Stinson was convicted in federal court in the Eastern District of Washington for Addict and Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, for which he served 120 months in prison. At the time of his arrest in 2021, Stinson was on federal supervised release. The full press release is located here.

Spokane, WA- Mexican National Unlawfully Present in the United States Sentenced to 20 Years for Discharging a Firearm at Spokane Police During a Drug Trafficking Crime. On September 18, 2025, Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastain sentenced Israel Garcia, 36, to 20 years in federal prison after his guilty pleas to Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime and Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl. Garcia was ordered to pay over $6,000 in restitution to the Spokane Police Department and placed on a period of 5 years of supervised release should he again return to the United States after serving his sentence. According to information disclosed in court documents and proceedings, Garcia, a documented gang member living in the Yakima, Washington area, was convicted in 2015 of Assault on Federal Officers related to a drug and firearm trafficking investigation. Garcia was released in 2021 and deported to Mexico. Garcia returned unlawfully to the United States in 2022 and resumed his drug trafficking. On October 16, 2022, Garcia traveled from Yakima to Spokane to deliver 10,000 fentanyl pills. When Spokane Police identified themselves and approached him to effectuate his arrest, Garcia got out of his vehicle and immediately opened fire on the officers, while attempting to flee to avoid arrest. The path of the bullets from Garcia were directed at multiple law enforcement officers; as well as in direction of his vehicle, which still contained his male and female passengers and a minor child. But for the angle of a car door window, which redirected one of Garcia’s rounds, a law enforcement officer would have been shot in the head. That officer nevertheless suffered injuries to his head and face. Officers returned fire, striking Garcia and ending the clear and present danger he presented to the officers and the community. The female passenger and minor child were terrified but otherwise reported to be physically unharmed. The full press release is located here.

Clarkston, WA- Clarkston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine, Illegally Possessing Firearms. Loyal Otis Dickson, III, age 40, of Clarkston, Washington was sentenced on firearm and drug trafficking charges. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Dickson to 15 years in federal prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Based on court documents and argument presented through the pendency of the case, a search warrant was executed on Dickson’s residence on November 6, 2024, based on prior observations of drug trafficking activities and his possession of a large amount of methamphetamine in his residence. At the residence, law enforcement located in total approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine shards, along with multiple firearms, including the components of an AR-style semiautomatic rifle consistent with a “ghost gun” which lacked markings or a serial number. Dickson was initially arrested and then subsequently released on state charges. Following his federal indictment, local law enforcement in Clarkston attempted to contact Dickson. Dickson fled into Idaho and engaged in a short foot pursuit with officers before being arrested. The full press release is located here.

Yakima, WA - Yakima Woman Sentenced to 151 months in Jail for Trafficking Methamphetamine with Firearm. on October 9, 2025, United States District Judge Rebecca L. Pennell, sentenced Allicianna Lynnzie Clark, age 31, of Yakima, Washington, to 151 months imprisonment for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Judge Pennell also ordered that, following her sentence, Clark be on supervised release for a period of five years. According to court documents, on August 5, 2024, two Yakima police officers were in a marked police vehicle when they observed a vehicle with expired tags. The officers observed that the driver was a female and was the only person in the vehicle. The officers initiated a traffic stop and the driver sped away into a neighborhood. A few minutes later the officers found the vehicle abandoned in an alleyway. The officers found Clark a short distance away, identified her as the driver of the vehicle, and arrested her. Inside a bag Clark possessed police found approximately 120 grams of actual methamphetamine and 25 grams of fentanyl. A Glock model 19, 9mm pistol was also inside the bag. Clark had previously served long prison sentences for assault, robbery, and illegal firearm possession. The full press release is located here.

Yakima, WA- Yakima Woman Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison Following Probation Violation. on October 21, 2025, Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian, sentenced Susen Ann Gorst, 37, of Yakima, Washington, to 57 months incarceration following violation of her terms of probation. Chief Judge Bastian also ordered that, following her sentence of incarceration, Gorst be required to complete 3 years of supervised release. According to court documents, on April 30, 2024, Gorst was sentenced to thirty-six months of probation following a guilty plea for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Gorst incurred multiple violations of the terms and conditions of probation imposed by the Court, resulting in the Court revoking Gorst’s probation and re-sentencing her to 57 months imprisonment. On August 15, 2024, Gorst failed to report to her probation officer as directed. She was also found to have previously consumed controlled substances and failed to submit to random drug testing. Gorst was arrested on July 7, 2025, by the Toppenish Police Department and on July 9, 2025, she was discovered in possession of controlled substances while in detention pending her probation revocation proceedings. Following evidentiary hearings on August 12, 2025, and October 6, 2025, Chief Judge Bastian sentenced Gorst on October 21, 2025. The full press release is located here.