East Wenatchee man sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison on drug, firearm charges

SPOKANE — An East Wenatchee man was sentenced to 17 years, six months in federal prison after convictions on drug trafficking and firearm charges tied to a 2024 shooting at the Wenatchee Valley Mall and a later vehicle search that uncovered methamphetamine, fentanyl pills and a gun.

Victor John Stevenson, 37, also was ordered to serve four years of supervised release following his prison term, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.

U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pennell imposed the sentence April 14. Stevenson was found guilty following two separate jury trials in November and December 2025, federal prosecutors said.

According to court documents and trial evidence, Stevenson illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and shot at a vehicle Sept. 4, 2024, in the parking lot of the Wenatchee Valley Mall in East Wenatchee. Investigators linked Stevenson to the shooting through DNA and ballistic evidence analyzed by the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory.

On Sept. 26, 2024, Stevenson reported to the Washington State Department of Corrections office in Wenatchee for a random drug test while on community custody supervision stemming from a prior state assault conviction. After he tested positive, officers searched his vehicle and found suspected drugs and a firearm inside a safe, authorities said.

Members of the Columbia River Drug Task Force then obtained a search warrant and recovered about 50 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, a firearm and ammunition from the vehicle, according to prosecutors.

Officers later went to Stevenson’s residence and found a pistol in the driveway. Laboratory testing confirmed it was the weapon used in the Sept. 4 shooting, authorities said. Investigators said Stevenson later admitted to the shooting during an interview.

Federal prosecutors said Stevenson also made a recorded phone call to an inmate at the Chelan County Jail in the days after the shooting, stating, “I don’t think one was enough” and “I’m gonna have to get a little closer next time.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Columbia River Drug Task Force, the Washington State Department of Corrections and the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nowles Heinrich and law clerk Jessica Vye.