Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Seattle – A 29-year-old Seattle-area resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 10 years in prison for four federal felonies, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown.  Steve Godina Ochoa was arrested in February 2020, after a 13-year-old runaway disclosed to counselors, that Godina Ochoa repeatedly sexually assaulted her. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour imposed a 10-year term of supervised release to follow the prison sentence.

According to records filed in the case, in November 2019, the Bellevue Police Department Sexual Assault Unit began investigating Godina Ochoa after disclosures from a young victim.  When Godina Ochoa and his vehicles were located, law enforcement seized quantities of methamphetamine and heroin and three firearms.  Two of the firearms had been reported stolen – one from Federal Way and the other from Snohomish County.  Godina Ochoa had more than $4,500 cash in the car – the proceeds from his drug dealing.  Godina Ochoa was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions for arson and unlawful possession of a firearm.

When law enforcement seized and analyzed Godina Ochoa’s electronic devices they found images of the sexual assault on the young victim.  The images constitute child pornography.

In asking for the 10-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “There are very few crimes that are more serious than those involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and narcotics trafficking is an undeniable blight on our community which robs our citizens of quality and longevity of life. As a convicted felon, the defendant elected to use firearms to protect his wares again putting himself and others are risk of harm or death all in an effort to support his lifestyle.”

The case was investigated by the Bellevue Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Department of Homeland Security (HSI).

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.

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