Richland, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Seth Cory Cunha, 38, of Walla Walla, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 84 months imprisonment to be followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information disclosed at sentencing, on the evening of January 10, 2021, Cunha was in a rental vehicle when he was arrested by Walla Walla Police (WWPD) on a felony arrest warrant from the Washington State Department of Corrections. A narcotics K-9 alerted to the presence of the odor of narcotics in the vehicle, and as a result, the vehicle was seized pending a search warrant. Investigators executed the search warrant and observed more than $3,500 in cash in the center console. No drugs were found in the vehicle.
On January 12, A detective with WWPD reviewed several phone calls made by Cunha while he was housed at the Walla Walla County Jail. Cunha made calls to his girlfriend and a roommate. During the phone calls, Cunha discussed the cash, his phones, and a storage unit. The WWPD Detective noted that anytime the storage unit was mentioned, Cunha became uneasy and redirected the conversation. Cunha would also refer to the storage unit in coded language only the person on the call could understand.
Through further investigation, detectives determined the location of the storage unit, and on January 13, Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant for the unit. During the search, detectives located several power tools, a Gatorade bottle that had been made into a smoking device and a small black safe. Inside the safe, detectives located five bags containing a methamphetamine, a loaded Smith & Wesson .45 caliber pistol, a spare magazine with bullets, and cash.
During the prosecution, Mr. Cunha challenged the admissibility of certain evidence against him. Ultimately, our prosecution team successfully established that the evidence was legally obtained through lawful search warrant.
“Mr. Cunha was a felon who trafficked narcotics and had access to firearms. Furthermore, he continued his drug trafficking while in the Walla Walla County jail,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Our office is working tirelessly to hold those who peddle poison in our community criminally accountable. We are working together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to make Eastern Washington a safer place for everyone”
“Drug traffickers like Mr. Cunha have no regard for the safety of our communities,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “He exacerbated this by trying to continue his illegal actions while in jail. He also had access firearms to ‘protect’ his illegal actions, further endangering citizens. ATF will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to investigate and take traffickers off the streets.”
“I am extremely proud of the work done by our team here at the Walla Walla Police Department,” said Walla Walla Police Chief Chris Buttice. “We are grateful for the continued partnerships within this valley and region of the state. We will remain committed to taking dangerous drugs and those who provide them off our streets.”
This case was investigated by the ATF, Walla Walla Police Department, and the College Place Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter.
