Curtis Van Putten Sentenced to 6 Years for Conspiracy to Unlawfully…

GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: The final defendant in a Snohomish County gun trafficking ring, CURTIS VAN PUTTEN, 44, of Marysville, Washington, faced justice as he was sentenced to six years in prison and three years of supervised release today. Van Putten pleaded guilty in February 2014, just ahead of trial, for conspiracy to unlawfully traffic in firearms and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Van Putten’s prior convictions for drug possession and possession of stolen property disqualified him from legally owning the three stolen assault rifles he sold to an undercover officer on December 11, 2012. These firearms were swiped from a home in Oak Harbor, Washington, mere hours before the transaction.

‘This defendant had no qualms about selling powerful firearms to the wrong hands, believing they were aiding a criminal gang leader,’ said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. ‘His sentence reflects the gravity of his actions and their impact on public safety.’

The ring’s ringleader, HEATHER CHANCEY, a/k/a/ HEATHER LEE SLATER, 34, also of Marysville, was sentenced to nine years in prison earlier this year. Records indicate Chancey and her cronies sold 49 firearms during the scheme, with most transactions taking place at the Tulalip Resort Casino parking lot.

Three other conspirators were also penalized: JAMES MICHAELS received a 10-month sentence and MARK JENKINS was sentenced to 42 months for their roles in the illegal gun sales.

The Snohomish Regional Gang and Drug Task Force, Seattle Police Department’s Major Crimes Task Force, and the FBI conducted the investigation. The ATF, Snohomish County Violent Offender Task Force, and the United States Marshal’s Violent Offender Task Force supported the agencies. Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Crisham and Justin Arnold prosecuted the case.