U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Washington
Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced today that David Velasquez Jr., 32, of Arizona, has been sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice, who also imposed five years of supervised release to follow the prison term.
Major Fentanyl Trafficker Targeted in Multi-State Investigation
According to court records and testimony presented at sentencing, in November 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began investigating Velasquez as a key supplier of fentanyl-laced pills to drug distributors operating in Eastern Washington. Agents uncovered that Velasquez had conspired with a co-defendant, David Fullmer, to transport large quantities of narcotics from Arizona through Utah and into Washington State.
Evidence showed that Velasquez supplied Fullmer with at least 10,000 fentanyl pills per meeting, using Utah as a key transit point. Fullmer has since been arrested, convicted, and sentenced on related federal drug trafficking charges.
On September 19, 2023, the FBI obtained a federal arrest warrant for Velasquez. He was located on October 13, 2023, in Dallas County, Iowa, where he was stopped while driving a truck. A search of the vehicle revealed 39,095 fentanyl-laced pills concealed within the tailgate, as well as three loaded firearms—two in the glove compartment and one under the rear seat.
Officials Emphasize Community Impact
“Fentanyl is a deadly drug that continues to devastate communities across Eastern Washington and the nation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “Mr. Velasquez trafficked tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced pills into our region, putting countless lives at risk. Our office remains committed to working with law enforcement partners to remove these dangerous drugs and hold traffickers accountable.”
“Mr. Velasquez was the source of large quantities of fentanyl flowing into the Spokane area,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle Field Office. “Knowing the lethal potential of these pills, his arrest likely saved lives. The FBI and our partners remain focused on disrupting the supply chain of these dangerous narcotics.”
Case Background
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with coordination across multiple jurisdictions. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nowles Heinrich and Patrick J. Cashman.
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