Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Benjamin D. Cliett, age 44, of Yakima, Washington, to 2 years in federal prison on one count of Person Subject to a Court Order in Possession of Firearms. Judge Dimke also imposed 3 years of supervised release.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on July 23, 2022, officers with the Yakima Police Department (YPD) were dispatched to Cliett’s residence in Yakima. Dispatch told the YPD that neighbors had called to report screaming and other loud noises coming from the residence.

Aware that Cliett was subject to a domestic violence no-contact order, and fearing that a domestic violence incident was occurring inside, YPD entered the residence. Cliett’s partner was in the house, and YPD conducted a protective sweep of the residence.  Inside, offices located Cliett hiding in a doghouse in the backyard. Cliett was arrested for violating the no-contact order.

While conducting the sweep, YPD observed a tall gun safe in the bedroom. Officers later returned with a search warrant and found ammunition and magazines spread throughout the home and eighteen firearms in the gun safe.

“Victims of domestic violence often feel trapped in abusive relationships, where they face higher risks of being shot or killed by their abuser than the general public,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Barker. “This is why it is so important to enforce laws that keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers—it really can save lives.”

“Mr. Cliett made many wrong choices that day,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “He knew that he had a no-contact order and that prohibited him from having access to firearms.  We hope that this prison sentence will give Mr. Cliett time to think about his actions and turn his life around.”

This case was investigated by the ATF and the Yakima Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Ellis.

1:22-cr-02111-MKD

Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that on April 23, 2025, United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Keith Lamarr Williams, age 43, to 80 months in prison on one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Judge Dimke also imposed 3 years of supervised release.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on October 18, 2022, deputies with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a domestic disturbance involving a weapon in Spokane Valley. K.D., who is Williams’ ex-girlfriend, with whom Williams shares children, told deputies that during the previous two weeks Williams had been parking and watching their daughter walk to school. On the day of the incident, Williams had been sitting in a parked vehicle with a view to the family’s apartment. When K.D. and her husband confronted and told Williams to leave, Williams pulled a gun, pointed it at K.D. and her husband, and demanded to see his daughter before leaving in his vehicle.

Deputies found the vehicle Williams was driving and attempted a traffic stop, but Williams fled. Deputies pursued the vehicle until Williams crashed. Williams tried to escape on foot, but deputies took him into custody. Williams’ two-year-old son was in the vehicle during the pursuit and collision.

Inside the vehicle, investigators located a Glock 9mm pistol with a bullet in the chamber. Deputies also located a Glock 9mm magazine that was loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition.

Williams was previously convicted in federal court in Eastern Washington on drug charges and served 80 months in prison. He was released from prison on February 18, 2022. As a result of his felony conviction, Williams was not allowed to possess a firearm.

“This case could have ended in tragedy,” stated Acting United States Attorney Barker. “Mr. Williams put his own family and others in danger by fleeing from law enforcement with a loaded gun in the car. Felons, who possess firearms are a threat to public safety, and we will continue to hold them accountable—especially when children are placed in harm’s way.”

“Mr. Williams’s actions were extremely dangerous to the community, and in particular to his 2-year-old son,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “He knew he wasn’t supposed to possess firearms, yet he chose to carry two loaded pistols in the car with him and his child.  This sentence was well deserved.”

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael L. Vander Giessen and Alison L. Gregoire.

2:23-cr-00060-MKD 

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