AUBURN FELON SENTENCED TO NEARLY 4 YEARS IN PRISON FOR GUN CRIME
Repeat Offender with Gang Ties Arrested with Semi-Automatic Pistol
KRISTOPHER LEE CHILES, 23, of Auburn, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. CHILES was arrested March 26, 2008, by Federal Way Police because of probation violations. CHILES, who as a convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm, was armed with a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol. At sentencing Chief U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik said, “One thing that the community has suffered with is gang shootings... causing the deaths of young black men at alarming rates. People are killing each other in malls and on the street. The message has to go out that if you are carrying a loaded gun, and you have a criminal record, you will be punished for it.”
According to records filed in the case, CHILES has prior convictions for Trafficking in Stolen Property (2004), Attempted Theft (2005), and Delivery of Cocaine (2006). CHILES was on probation on the drug charge, when a warrant was issued for his arrest for violating the terms of his probation. Federal Way Police officers arrested him outside his Auburn apartment with the gun tucked in the waistband of his pants. CHILES admitted being a member of a street gang and was wearing gang related clothing.
CHILES was indicted on June 8, 2008, and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle on October 2, 2008.
CHILES was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program. Unveiled by President George W. Bush in May 2001, Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), is a comprehensive and strategic approach to gun law enforcement. PSN is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in America by networking both new and existing local programs that target gun crime and then providing them with the resources and tools they need to succeed. Implementation at the local level -- in this case, in King County-- has fostered close partnerships between federal, state and local prosecutors and law enforcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Way Police Department, Washington State Department of Corrections, FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William H. Redkey, Jr.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.
