Felon who sold weapons in Renton pleads guilty to trafficking

A convicted felon who trafficked in multiple high-powered firearms in the Renton area has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle to conspiracy to unlawfully deal in firearms and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He had led police on chase in Renton on April 17.

June 19, 2012 8:26 pm

A convicted felon who trafficked in multiple high-powered firearms in the Renton area has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle to conspiracy to unlawfully deal in firearms and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Joshua Dawson, 20, is one of six Seattle-area men indicted in April 2012 following a firearms trafficking investigation.  The men sold guns to a person working with law enforcement in the Renton area. Under the terms of the plea agreement, both sides will recommend a prison sentence between five and eight years in prison. U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones can impose any sentence up to the 10 years at sentencing on Sept. 28.

In the plea agreement, Dawson admitted that when officers went to arrest him on April 17 on Northeast Third Street and Sunset Boulevard in Renton, he fled in his car, crashing into other vehicles. When he was taken into custody, officers found a loaded Kel-Tec model PF-9, 9mm pistol, in the glove compartment of his car.

Dawson was indicted following an undercover investigation involving the Seattle Police Department Gang Unit, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).

In his plea agreement, Dawson admitted to selling eight guns between January and March: a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver; a Mac 11 9mm pistol; an SKS 7.62 assault rifle; a Romarm/Cugir, 7.62 x 39mm caliber rifle; a DPMS, 223/5.56mm caliber rifle; an Olympic Arms, multi rifle with a silencer; a Weatherby, 7mm caliber rifle; and a Maadi, 7.62 x 39mm caliber rifle.

In all in this operation, 25 guns were taken off the street, many of which were previously reported stolen, according to the federal press release. Five others are being prosecuted as part of the case: Andre M. Conerly, 25, James L. Henderson, 22, Daunte R. Williams, 29, Alexander J. Olivio-Altheimer, 21, all of Seattle, and Djuan O. Gardner, 28, of Federal Way.Four of the defendants, including Dawson, are charged with being a felon in possession of firearms. Dawson has prior convictions for robbery and theft.

The case was jointly investigated by the FBI, the Seattle Police Department Gang Unit, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).