Spokane, WA – A Yakima-area man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after firing on Spokane police officers while delivering thousands of fentanyl pills, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
On September 18, 2025, U.S. Chief District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced 36-year-old Israel Garcia following his guilty plea to discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He was also ordered to pay more than $6,000 in restitution to the Spokane Police Department and placed on five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Garcia traveled from Yakima to Spokane in October 2022 with 10,000 fentanyl pills. When officers attempted to arrest him, he allegedly opened fire, striking at least one police vehicle and narrowly missing an officer. Gunfire also endangered a female passenger and a child inside his vehicle, though both were unharmed. Officers returned fire, injuring Garcia before taking him into custody.
Garcia, a documented gang member, had previously been convicted in 2015 of assault on federal officers and deported in 2021 after serving 84 months in prison. He allegedly re-entered the United States unlawfully in 2022 and resumed fentanyl trafficking before his arrest.
“This case highlights the importance of our partnerships between state and federal partners,” said U.S. Attorney Pete Serrano. DEA Special Agent in Charge David F. Reames added, “Prison is clearly the right place for him.”
The case was investigated by Spokane Police and the DEA, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Van Marter and Lisa Cartier Giroux.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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