Pasco Man Sentenced to 204 Months in Federal Prison Methamphetamine, Heroin and Cocaine Conviction

Spokane – Joseph H. Harrington, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Jorge Ayala Magana, age 39, of Pasco, Washington, was sentenced to a 204-month term of imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, and for violating court supervision. Chief United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Magana to a 180-month term of imprisonment to be followed by a six-year term of court supervision following release from Federal prison. After finding that Magana had violated court supervision stemming from a previous drug conviction, Chief Judge Rice also imposed an additional 60-month term of imprisonment, with 24-months to be served consecutive to the 180-months.

According to information disclosed during the court proceedings, on December 3, 2016, a Spokane Police Department (SPD) Patrol Anti-Crime Team (PACT) Officer initiated a traffic stop in Spokane, Washington, after observing Magana driving with a suspended license. The PACT officer observed Magana making a suspicious movement toward a passenger in the front seat as he approached the vehicle. The officer observed drug paraphernalia in the vehicle and detained Magana. During the stop, SPD officers seized methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. They also seized approximately $3,186 in U.S. currency and a methamphetamine pipe from Magana. At the time, Magana was under court supervision for a drug conviction in Montana. During a subsequent search of Magana’s storage unit, officers seized an additional quantity of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, a scale, and two 4k Smart televisions. Overall, officers seized 342 grams of pure methamphetamine, 184 grams of heroin, and 165 grams of cocaine from Magana’s vehicle and storage unit.

Acting United States Attorney Harrington said, “The sentence imposed in this case reflects the seriousness of drug trafficking crimes. This case is yet another example of the commitment of the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute aggressively drug cases in the Eastern District of Washington. I commend the law enforcement officers with the Spokane Police Department’s Patrol Anti-Crime Team, the Spokane Safe Streets Task Force, the DEA and the Washington State Patrol, for their tireless efforts in thoroughly investigating this case.”

This investigation was by the DEA, the Spokane Safe Streets Task Force, the Spokane Police Department Patrol Anti-Crime Team (PACT), and Washington State Patrol (WSP). The case was prosecuted by George J.C. Jacobs, III, and Patrick J. Cashman, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.