Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that on April 2, 2025, a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington returned an indictment charging Michael R. Trout, 45, with Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor, Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography, and Commission of a Felony Sex Offense by an Individual Required to Register as a Sex Offender.

Trout was arrested by federal and state law enforcement officers and made his initial appearance in federal court on April 4, 2025.

In late January 2025, the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service received a report of an assault that had occurred between July 18 and July 23, 2024, in Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.

Trout has prior Washington State convictions for Rape and Burglary with Sexual Motivation. Because of these convictions, Trout was required under state and federal law to register as a sex offender.

If members of the public have any information regarding related crimes that Trout may have committed, they are encouraged to call the NPS crime tip line at 888-653-0009, email nps_isb@nps.gov, or submit a tip online.

This case is being investigated jointly by Nation Park Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Washington State Patrol, and Spokane Police Department, as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

 2:25-cr-00050-TOR

Spokane, Washington – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict in the trial of a Raymond Joe and Jennifer Lynn Hilderbrand, both age 54, of Spokane Valley, Washington. The Hilderbrands were found guilty on multiple fraud charges.

United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice presided over the trial, which began April 21, 2025. At sentencing, which is set for July 23, 2025, the Hilderbrands face a maximum term of 20 years in prison as well as restitution for fraudulently-obtained funds.

On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses.  One such program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic.  The EIDL program have provided billions of dollars in aid, the vast majority of which have not been paid back, including hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed within Eastern Washington.  

The evidence presented at trial established that the Hilderbrands engaged in elaborate scheme to obtain money from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to spend on their entertainment business called Poweline Enterprise LLC (Powerline), even though in September of 2021, the SBA had declined to fund a loan for the company.

To execute this scheme, in January of 2022, Raymond Hilderbrand completed a EIDL application in the name of Hilderbrand Auto Services, which was an automotive repair business, owned by the Raymond Hilderbrand, located at 10423 E. Trent Avenue, Spokane Valley. In the application he told the SBA the EIDL funds would be used as working capital for Hilderbrand Auto Services, and would not be used for another company. However, in February 2022, when SBA sent $320,000 to Hilderbrand Auto to be used by that business to alleviate economic injury caused by the pandemic, the Hilderbrands immediately transferred $311,000 to Powerline. The Hilderbrands then used $295,000 of the EIDL funds to purchase the Trent Avenue property in the name of Powerline, with Jennifer Hilderbrand as the only owner.

The Hilderbrands continued to attempt to obtain additional EIDL funds in the name of Powerline by making false representations about the company’s revenue on their EIDL application. The SBA declined the reconsideration of the Powerline EIDL application in early May of 2022. Shortly thereafter, the Hilderbrands requested a modification for the EIDL loan for Hilderbrand Auto. The SBA approved the request, and Raymond Hilderbrand again promised to use the money solely for Hilderbrand Auto. On May 17, 2022, the SBA disbursed an additional $43,000 in EIDL funds to the Hilderbrand Auto bank account, $35,000 of which was immediately withdrawn by check and transferred to Powerline.

In May 2022, the Hilderbrands submitted an application on behalf of Powerline for a license to sell alcohol and food at the Trent Avenue Property. Then, in the summer of 2022, the Hilderbrands began to host concerts at the Trent Avenue property. The advertisements billed the property as “The YARD, A New Upcoming Outdoor Venue in Spokane WA!” that included beer gardens and food vendors. The advertisement also indicated the concert was “brought to you by” “Powerline Enterprises” along with other companies.

In September 2022, the Hilderbrands applied for a new application for a snack bar license on behalf of Powerline for the Trent Avenue Property. During an interview with a license investigator, Raymond Hilderbrand stated the company’s hope was to host swap meets and multiple activities, with a snack bar inside a building with outside seating. Mr. Hilderbrand was asked if Powerline shared the property with any other businesses and he responded, “No,” even though the property was shared with Hilderbrand Auto. Mr. Hilderbrand also acknowledged that Powerline had bought the property for $295,000. The investigator asked if any of the funds for the purchase were “gifted or loaned from a business source,” to which Hilderbrand falsely responded “no.”

“I am grateful for the prosecutors and investigators that worked together to seek justice in this case,” stated Acting United States Attorney Rich Barker.  “Our incredible trial team worked closely with the SBA to present a compelling case, establishing that both Raymond and Jennifer Hilderbrand were held accountable for the lies they told to obtain funding that was designed for small businesses in need of a lifeline.  As a result of the Hilderbrands’ fraud, other small businesses were unable to obtain the help they needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

This case was investigated by the Eastern District of Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force and by TIGTA, SBA OIG, and IRS-CI.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Frieda K. Zimmerman, Jeremy J. Kelley, and Jacob Brooks. 

2:23-cr-00114-TOR

Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced today that United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Damian Iniguez, 31, of Yakima, Washington, to 75 months in prison on one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Judge Dimke also imposed 3 years of supervised release.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on September 8, 2023, a Zillah Police Officer noticed a suspicious vehicle parked at a gas station. It had been parked at the gas station for two hours and the vehicle was running.

When the officer approached the vehicle, the officer saw Iniguez slumped over in the driver’s seat. The vehicle’s gear shift was in “drive” and Iniguez’ foot was on the brake. When Iniguez woke up, he was uncompliant with commands of law enforcement to put the vehicle in park and turn the car off.

Iniguez ultimately was placed under arrest, and during a subsequent pat down, the officer located a firearm in Iniguez’s sweatshirt pocket. The firearm was a loaded Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine. Further investigation showed the firearm had been stolen from Oregon in 2021.

Iniguez had been convicted of a crime previously and was not allowed to possess a firearm.

“The unlawful possession of firearms by convicted felons poses a threat to the safety of our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “Mr. Iniguez’s case highlights the critical work of our local and federal law enforcement partners in removing firearms from the hands of those who are prohibited from having them. We will continue to pursue accountability for those who disregard federal firearm laws and endanger public safety.”

“Felons know they should not possess firearms,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “Yet, Mr. Iniguez chose to possess a firearm – a stolen one, even worse. This sentence should serve to show that ATF will investigate, and the U.S. Attorney will prosecute, those who violate federal firearms laws in Washington.”

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Zillah Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin D. Seal and Courtney R. Pratten.

1:23-cr-02068-MKD

Yakima, Washington – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington announced today that six people are in federal custody following the return of an indictment alleging 20 criminal counts involving drug trafficking and firearms.

On April 22, 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations, and the Moses Lake Police Department executed a number of federal search warrants at several locations, seizing nine firearms. The guns were seized as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into a drug trafficking network operating in Eastern Washington.

According to unsealed charging documents, the following individuals have been charged in connection to the investigation. In addition, the names of others indicted in connection with this investigation will be unsealed upon the arrest of those individuals.

• Jose Luis Martinez-Parra, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Actual (Pure) Methamphetamine, Distribution of Fentanyl, Distribution of 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl

• Alexander Martinez-Mendoza, 18, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, Distribution of 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl

• Luis Martin Navarro-Ceballos, 29, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Actual (Pure) Methamphetamine, Carrying Firearm During Drug Trafficking, Alien in Possession of a Firearm

• Maria Zamora-Cuevas, 33, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl  

• Rosa Zamora, 41, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl  

• Triston David Duplichan, 29, Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

The individuals were arraigned at the Yakima Federal Courthouse on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Moses Lake Police Department investigated this case. Additional assistance was provided by the Yakima Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Indians Affairs. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin D. Seal.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

1:25-CR-2049-SAB