Spokane, Washington – David Velasquez Jr., 32, has been sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice, who also ordered five years of supervised release following the prison term.
The case against Velasquez originated in November 2022 when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified him as a major supplier of illegal drugs in Eastern Washington. According to court documents and statements made during the sentencing hearing, Velasquez collaborated with an associate named David Fulmer. The pair reportedly met multiple times in Utah to coordinate drug shipments from Arizona to Eastern Washington, with Velasquez supplying Fulmer with at least 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills per meeting. Fulmer has since been arrested and sentenced on related charges.
On September 19, 2023, the FBI obtained a federal arrest warrant for Velasquez. His location was tracked to Iowa on October 13, where he was apprehended while driving a truck near Dallas County. During the arrest, law enforcement officials discovered 39,095 fentanyl pills concealed within the vehicle's tailgate along with two loaded handguns in the glove compartment and another under the rear seat.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker commented on the impact of fentanyl distribution: "Fentanyl is a deadly drug that continues to devastate communities across Eastern Washington and the nation," he said. "Mr. Velasquez trafficked tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced pills into our region, putting numerous lives at risk."
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office, emphasized the significance of removing Velasquez from circulation: “Knowing this poison can easily kill its users, countless lives may have been saved by taking him off the streets."
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nowles Heinrich and Patrick J. Cashman.