Aaron Winnier, Possession of Stolen Firearm, Washington 2024

SPokane – Aaron Winnier, 33, of Wapato, Washington, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing a stolen firearm. Senior United States District Court Judge Wm. Fremming Nielsen handed down the sentence on a charge of possession of a stolen firearm.

The crime occurred on April 22, 2014, when the Yakama Nation Police Department received a complaint of a disturbance at a residence. The officers apprehended Winnier, who was intoxicated at the time, and found a stolen firearm in his pocket. Winnier admitted to the officers that he did not care if the firearm was stolen and would just "get another one."

Aaron Winnier has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for possession of marijuana, resisting arrest, obstruction, taking a vehicle without permission, protection order violation, attempt to elude a police vehicle, third degree assault, fourth degree assault, third degree escape, reckless endangerment, malicious injury to property, residential burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, and felony harassment – threat to kill.

Winnier was sentenced to a 10-year term of imprisonment and a three-year term of court supervision following his release from federal prison. The sentence was handed down by Judge Nielsen, who noted Winnier's extensive criminal history.

The investigation was conducted by the Yakama Nation Tribal Police Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The case was prosecuted by Tom Hanlon, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, said, "The United States Attorney's Office is committed to prosecuting individuals who unlawfully possess firearms. Such offenses are serious, and just punishment will be pursued against individuals who violate the firearms laws, as was done in this case. I commend the Yakama Nation Police Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs for their commitment to this successful prosecution."

The case number is 14-CR-13-2035-WFN-1.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwa/pr/wapato-man-sentenced-ten-years-prison-possession-stolen-firearm