Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Mark Steven White, age 60 of Kennewick Washington, was sentenced today after pleading guilty to two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 78 months imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on May 15, 2022, Officers with the Kennewick Police Department (KPD) responded to a hit and run incident. Office observed a white Toyota 4Runner on its side, along the road. Officers learned the driver of the 4Runner had driven onto the sidewalk, hit a pile of dirt, then rolled onto its side. The 4Runner was unoccupied. After responding to the scene, a KPD officer observed a black handgun laying on the floorboard of the driver seat of the 4Runner.
Officers identified a set of shoe impressions in the dirt near the 4Runner. Witnesses reported a loud bang then saw a man, later identified as White, who was wearing a white t-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes, climb out the window of the 4Runner. White then took off running north. KPD ultimately detained White just four blocks from the hit and run. Officers also matched the tread pattern from White’s shoes to the pattern in the footprints near the 4Runner.
White was cited and released for Hit and Run by Kennewick Police, and the 4Runner was secured at KPD. Officers then applied for and were granted a search warrant for the 4Runner. Investigators later collected a black Ruger EC9s 9MM Semi-Automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number from inside of White’s vehicle. The handgun had an extended magazine that was loaded with several cartridges. The gun was placed into evidence at the Kennewick Police Department.
By June 23, 2022, a Washington State Department of Corrections warrant had been issued for White’s arrest. U.S. Marshals located White driving a black Chevrolet Avalanche in West Richland. When White spotted the U.S. Marshals, he fled into an apartment where he was later taken into custody.
On June 28, 2022, members of the FBI’s Southeast Washington Safe Streets Task Force executed a federal search warrant for the Chevy Avalanche. Inside, investigators located a loaded Springfield .45 caliber pistol between the driver’s seat and center console. The serial numbers on the gun had been obliterated. Body armor and a ballistic helmet were also found inside the vehicle.
White was in Washington State Supervision for a violent offense at the time of the new federal crimes.
“Mr. White was a felon, who on two occasions, just a few weeks apart, fled a vehicle and refused to cooperate with law enforcement. On both occasions, Mr. White had a firearm he was not legally permitted to have. Armed felons present a real danger to our neighborhoods and communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I’m thankful to the dedicated efforts of KPD and FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force who focus their crime reduction strategies on holding repeat offenders accountable to make our communities safer and stronger.”
“Our community is safer with Mr. White behind bars.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “He has a long history of violence and knowingly possessed a firearm despite being prohibited from doing so. This case demonstrates how strong partnerships among all levels of law enforcement are working to protect the citizens of Washington state.”
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Southeast Washington Safe Streets Task Force which includes additional officers and detectives from the Kennewick Police Department, Pasco Police Department, Richland Police Department, Border Patrol and Department of Corrections. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Van Marter and Rebecca Perez.