Pasco Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Murder in Connection with Drug Trafficking Crime
SPOKANE, Washington — A Pasco man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in connection with a methamphetamine-trafficking conspiracy, announced Michael C. Ormsby, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Domingo Valdovinos, 28, was found guilty of murder by a jury and sentenced by Senior United States District Judge W. Fremming Nielsen to a life term in federal prison. Valdovinos was also sentenced to two 30-year terms of imprisonment for his convictions on methamphetamine-trafficking offenses.
According to the information presented during court proceedings, on February 28, 2014, the victim, identified by the initials D.W., was lured to a residence on Knox Street in Spokane, Washington, under the guise of resolving a drug debt. Upon arriving at the residence, D.W. was beaten with baseball bats, tied up, and driven to a remote location in Stevens County.
At the remote location, Valdovinos and his uncle, Benito Baldovinos, doused D.W. with gasoline, shot him multiple times, then set his body on fire. The investigation was initially conducted by the Spokane Police Department, Idaho State Police, Stevens County Sheriff’s Department, and Pasco Police Department.
Senior Judge Nielsen found that Valdovinos was the leader and organizer of the methamphetamine-trafficking conspiracy, which was responsible for upwards of 50 pounds per month of methamphetamine transported into the area. The Judge also noted the heinous nature of the murder, stating that the amount of drugs trafficked by Valdovinos’ organization was one of the largest he had seen in over twenty years on the Federal bench.
Co-conspirators Benito Baldovinos, Joseph Gillespie, and Dillon Casteel pleaded guilty to their involvement in the murder of D.W. Co-conspirators Christopher Teuscher and Jorge Mednoza Sanchez, who were not implicated in the murder, pleaded guilty to their involvement in the methamphetamine-trafficking conspiracy.
“This case presented a perfect example of the dangers involved in the trafficking of illegal drugs,” said Michael C. Ormsby. “Not only did the members of this criminal organization distribute a stunning amount of drugs, but they resorted to a very violent murder as part of their operation.”
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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