Man Found with Drugs, Guns, and Explosives Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking
Defendant Had Body Armor, "Police" Patch, AR-15 Style Rifle, and Handcuffs
SPOKANE, Wash.- On January 23, 2024, U.S. Senior District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson sentenced James Daniel Bacon, 35, of Colbert, Washington, to 140 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams of Actual Methamphetamine, to be followed by 5 years on supervised release. Bacon will serve an additional 12 months in federal prison for violating his supervised release conditions from an underlying 2011 case, for a total of 152 months of imprisonment.
According to court documents, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents developed information that Bacon was in possession of methamphetamine and heroin. Following his arrest, federal agents searched a storage unit that Bacon was using to store drugs and weapons. Agents found 2 pounds of methamphetamine, a body armor plate carrier and plates, a velcro “police” patch for the plate carrier, several weapons including an AR-15 style rifle with a large capacity magazine, a plastic tub with more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, 5 pounds of C-4 plastic explosives, and handcuffs.
“DEA’s primary mission is to protect Americans from those who would poison and harm our citizens,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Mr. Bacon clearly is a drug trafficker capable of great harm, not only through his drug distribution enterprise, but also his possession of weapons, body armor, police paraphernalia, and explosives. This is a dangerous person that the combined efforts of law enforcement partnered to take into custody. The sentence shows our unified resolve to mitigate these threats.”
“Mr. Bacon was a repeat offender who continued to distribute poison in our neighborhoods. He also had access to weapons and military-grade explosives that he could use to harm others,” stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref. “I am thankful for our law enforcement partners whose efforts removed dangerous narcotics and weapons from our streets to build a safer and stronger community.”
“Mr. Bacon’s disregard for the safety of the community in which he distributed drugs resulted in his sentencing to prison, where he belongs.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “The danger he posed was greater than the illegal drugs he distributed, but also in his procurement of weapons and explosives which further aggravate the severity of his crimes. This case demonstrates the positive impact the FBI and our partners make when we work together to safeguard our communities.”
“We are thankful that DEA was able to stop Mr. Bacon when they did,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “Not only was he distributing drugs while possessing firearms, but it is also clear that he may have had further intentions to harm the community through the use of police paraphernalia and a significant amount of explosives. This sentence is clearly reflective of the harm he has, and could have, caused.”
This case was investigated by the DEA Spokane Task Force, DEA Coeur d’Alene Task Force, assisted by the ATF, FBI and the Spokane Police.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Cashman.
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