EVERETT — A successful real estate agent who once toured the country as a motivational speaker lost his career, family and home over an addiction to prescription painkillers.
On Tuesday, Andrew De Los Angeles also lost his freedom.
De Los Angeles was sentenced to two years in prison for a rash of burglaries in 2009.
The Everett man in March pleaded guilty to using his position as a real estate agent to gain entry into homes that were up for sale. Once inside, De Los Angeles stole from the unsuspecting homeowners, taking thousands of dollars in property that often included diamond jewelry.
He then pawned the stolen goods to pay for his drug addiction, according to court papers.
De Los Angeles pleaded guilty to eight felonies, including burglary and trafficking in stolen property.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Wynne gave De Los Angeles an alternative sentence for drug offenders. The alternative sentence was recommended by the attorneys and the state Department of Corrections.
After serving his time De Los Angeles must be supervised by a community corrections officer for two years. He also must seek drug treatment and follow any conditions set by the state Department of Corrections.
If he violates those conditions, he could be sent back to prison for an additional two years.
He cannot work as a real estate agent during his time under community supervision, Wynne said. Since the burglary reports, De Los Angeles lost his membership with the Snohomish County-Camano Association of Realtors.
De Los Angeles had some run-ins with the law as a young man. He had been clean and sober for 13 years and built a good career, his attorney Thomas Cox said. He got injured and was prescribed prescription painkillers.
“He lost everything because of those stupid little pills,” Cox said.
Drug treatment is the best way to get De Los Angeles back on track so he can get a job and pay back the people whose homes he burglarized, the defense attorney said.
A tearful De Los Angeles apologized.
“I did things I would never dream of doing,” he said.
Every day he thinks about how he hurt the people he was supposed to be helping, De Los Angeles said.
De Los Angeles said he’s been drug-free for more than a year, and wants to reunite with his family and two children.
Wynne told De Los Angeles once he’s released from prison to take the opportunity to prove that he can again be a productive member of the community.
If he doesn’t, he’ll be sent back behind bars, the judge warned.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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