SEATTLE – Devin Jennings, 35, is headed back to federal prison after receiving a ten-year sentence today for dealing crack cocaine in downtown Seattle. U.S. District Court Judge Marsha J. Pechman handed down the sentence, along with three years of supervised release, after Jennings was caught peddling the drug in the 1500 block of Second Avenue. This isn’t Jennings’ first rodeo; he was barely five months removed from a previous federal stretch when Seattle Police caught him slinging again.
The case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Colasurdo, highlights a revolving door of criminality. Jennings pleaded guilty in October 2012 after officers, conducting surveillance due to persistent drug activity around Second and Pike, observed him making multiple crack cocaine sales on August 16, 2012. The arrest wasn’t smooth. Jennings actively resisted a search, and things escalated quickly when officers attempted to transport him to the precinct.
According to court records, Jennings unleashed a violent outburst inside the patrol car, kicking and bending the rear passenger door from its frame. He also reportedly threatened the arresting officers. A search of the damaged vehicle revealed the crack cocaine Jennings had attempted to ditch during the struggle. Judge Pechman didn’t mince words during sentencing, telling Jennings, “Your addictions are controlling your decision making… If drugs give you a hair trigger temper… you need to leave them behind.”
Prosecutors argued for the full ten-year sentence, pointing to Jennings’ extensive criminal history. “He has now been convicted of ten felony offenses and nearly twice as many non-felony offenses,” they wrote to the court. “In light of Jennings’ extremely long, and often times violent, criminal history, the United States believes that a substantial term of imprisonment is appropriate.” While the quantity of crack wasn’t massive, prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of the offense and Jennings’ swift return to drug dealing after his release, as well as his violent post-arrest behavior.
This isn’t a new pattern for Jennings. In 2004, he received a 100-month sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The two years of supervised release violations from that previous conviction were also factored into today’s sentencing. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Jenny A. Durkan, clearly views Jennings as a continuing threat to the community.
The Seattle Police Department spearheaded the investigation, bringing Jennings back into the federal system. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle with drug trafficking and repeat offenders plaguing the city’s streets. Jennings’ decade-long sentence may offer temporary relief, but the question remains: will it be enough to break the cycle of addiction and crime that has defined his life?
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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