Yakima Man Sentenced To 85 Months Imprisonment

Spokane – Today, Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Michael Brandon Stewart, age 29, of Yakama, Washington, was sentenced for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Senior United States District Court Judge Lonny R. Suko sentenced Stewart to an 85 month term of imprisonment and a 36 month term of court supervision following release from federal prison.

According to information disclosed during the court proceedings, in June 2011, Yakima Police Department officers became aware that Stewart allegedly offered to sell a firearm to an individual who was cooperating with them. At that time, the officers were aware that Stewart was a previously convicted felon and, therefore, prohibited from possessing firearms. Thereafter, law enforcement officers arranged a successful undercover sting operation – Stewart sold a .44 caliber handgun to the individual cooperating the officers. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives subsequently ran a trace on the handgun and discovered it had been stolen during a residential burglary. Stewart has a lengthy criminal history including convictions for residential burglary, first degree theft, third degree assault, possession of an illegal weapon, possession of methamphetamine, bail jumping, and delivery of a controlled substance.

Michael C. Ormsby said, "The United States Attorney's Office, the Yakima Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, are committed to protecting communities in the Eastern District of Washington from convicted felons who unlawfully possess firearms. This case was particularly egregious because the handgun had been stolen during an earlier residential burglary."

This investigation was conducted by the Yakima Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Tom Hanlon, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

11-CR-02106-LRS