Felon with Multiple Convictions Gets Lengthy Prison Term for Possessing a Firearm and Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

DENVER – Carl Walton Raymonde, age 46, of Lakewood, Colorado, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson to serve 216 months (18 years) in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, U.S.  Attorney John Walsh and ATF Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Luke Franey announced.  Raymonde was also ordered by Judge Jackson to pay a Denver Police Department detective $22,382 in restitution for medical expenses and loss of work as a result of injuries the detective received while trying to take Raymonde into custody.

Raymonde was first charged by Criminal Complaint on November 21, 2011.  He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on November 28, 2011.  He pled guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 30, 2014.  He was sentenced on July 22, 2014.  Raymonde was previously prosecuted in U.S. District Court in Denver in 2000 for also being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, including the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, on November 17, 2011, Raymonde drove a black BMW to a residence in Denver.  Law enforcement was conducting surveillance on Raymonde at this location and determined that the license plate tags on the BMW he was driving were from another vehicle.  As law enforcement continued their surveillance of Raymonde they noticed he began driving at a high rate of speed to an address in Lakewood.

While at the Lakewood address, law enforcement made the decision to attempt to arrest Raymonde.  Raymonde was found in the back yard of the Lakewood address.  Law enforcement agents gave concise commands for Raymonde to get on the ground.   Raymonde ignored the commands and began to flee.  Officers began a foot pursuit.  An ATF task force officer cut Raymonde off and gave him several orders to get on the ground.  Again Raymonde ignored the orders of the officer.

Raymonde continued to run and entered another back yard, continuing to avoid the officers chasing him.  Eventually an officer tasered Raymonde, which proved ineffective.  Raymonde ran behind a shed where he dropped a small black case that had 45 grams of methamphetamine in it.   He continued to actively resist arrest until an ATF agent had to physically restrain him.  Once restrained, Raymonde was handcuffed and provided medical attention.  The officers had to use physical force since Raymonde had a bulletproof vest on and continued to physically struggle with the officers.

In addition to the methamphetamine, Raymonde had four counterfeit $100.00 bills and miscellaneous over the counter pills.  He also had a Ultra High Voltage Stun Gun attached to his belt.  After the defendant was in custody, officers spoke to the residents of the Lakewood address.  The residents stated that Raymonde entered their house, dropped a black camera bag, discarded gloves and a cell phone, and threw a 9mm pistol with two rounds in the magazine behind the washer and dryer.  After throwing the firearm, Raymonde pushed out the screen in the kitchen and jumped out into the backyard.

Raymonde was transported to a hospital.  An inventory search of his vehicle resulted in locating an airsoft 4.55mm pistol, a thunder blaster stun gun, two law enforcement badges, one being a Colorado Department of Corrections Officer's badge and drug paraphernalia.  In addition to these items, the officers found several cell phones that Raymonde possessed.

Raymonde had the following prior felony convictions:

1.  Controlled Substance-Possess Schedule II (felony) and Assault 3 (misdemeanor) Denver District Court;

2.  Felon in Possession of a Firearm, United States District Court District of Colorado;

3.  Controlled Substance-Possess Schedule II Criminal Attempt, Jefferson County;

4.  Marihuana-Possess with intent to distribute, Denver District Court;

5.  Menacing, Arapahoe County Court

“Thanks to the hard work of the Project Safe Neighborhood Task Force, a dangerous felon who was found with firearms and methamphetamine will be spending the next 18 years of his life in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.  “This felon was so dangerous that once he saw law enforcement he fled with his weapon.  The foot chase resulted in one officer getting hurt trying to subdue him, and an ATF agent literally running through a fence to catch and apprehend the defendant.”

“We are pleased with the outcome of this case,” said Special Agent in Charge, Luke Franey.  “ATF will continue with our mission in protecting the public by investigating all firearm-related violent crimes and arresting those that blatantly disregard the law.”

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Project Safe Neighborhood Task Force, which includes the Denver, Aurora and Lakewood Police Departments.

Raymonde was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Sibert.