Everett man sentenced for cocaine trafficking

SEATTLE — An Everett man accused of trafficking in crack cocaine was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison Friday.

Prosecutors say Darwin Caldwell, 30, is a gang member who sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. During one sale, federal agents saw Caldwell’s infant child asleep in the back of his car, according to court papers.

Caldwell also was accused of illegally possessing a handgun. At a second undercover sale, he displayed two different guns to the confidential informant, prosecutors said. Caldwell is a felon and prohibited from possessing guns or ammunition.

He has five prior felony convictions, including assault.

Gang members trafficking in crack and other drugs are behind many drive-by shootings and homicides in the region in the past year, Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Lombardi said.

“There is a pressing need to deter others in the community who may be tempted to sell drugs and arm themselves despite prior felony convictions,” Lombardi wrote in court papers.

The case was investigated by the ATF’s Violent Gang Task Force and the Everett Police Department.

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