Tacoma man sold drugs and possessed guns while on supervised release, feds say
The U.S. District Court for Western Washington sentenced a Tacoma man to 10 years in prison Tuesday for distributing drugs and possessing firearms while on supervised release, U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd announced.
In June 2010, 49-year-old Ezekiel Hampton was sentenced to 13 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for interstate transportation of a minor, interstate transportation for prostitution and sex trafficking of a minor.
Less than five years from his release in December 2019, the Tacoma Police Department was made aware of Hampton’s involvement in drug trafficking, according to a news release issued.
Police searched his vehicle and residence in October 2024, finding a black backpack containing fentanyl, methamphetamine, crack cocaine and a loaded 9 millimeter firearm with an extended magazine in his car, the news release states. Authorities also recovered a loaded pistol with one round chambered in the vehicle’s center console.
Officers found more methamphetamine, fentanyl powder and two firearms after searching his residence.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful firearm possession and two counts of controlled substance possession with intent to distribute in May 2025, the news release stated.
“Hampton is a repeat offender who has continually engaged in drug crimes while unlawfully possessing guns,” prosecutors wrote to the court when asking for the 10-year sentence. “The combination of drugs and guns creates a very dangerous situation for all involved and uninvolved.”
