Story perspectives

Felon Arrested with Gun; Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty

12/4/2025

Center

Gun Charges Filed

Malik Desmond Washington, 26, of North Charleston, S.C., was arrested for possessing a firearm as a felon after police responded to gunfire on November 21, with shell casings found and a gun found during search.
William Blas Hernandez, 28, of Gainesville, Fla., pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and firearm possession after a traffic stop.
Hernandez faces a minimum of ten years in federal prison, with sentencing set for February 10.

Right

Drug Traffickers Indicted

Gerardo Solorio-Alvarado, a 44-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, was indicted for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in Atlanta.
Nelson Enrique Sorto, 36, was also charged.
Authorities seized nearly 1,600 pounds of meth hidden in shipments of blackberries during surveillance operations.
Solorio-Alvarado previously served 17 years in prison for drug-related offenses.
Both men remain in state custody and face prison time, with Solorio-Alvarado facing at least 15 years.

History

Historical Context

The War on Drugs began in the 1980s under President Ronald Reagan, who declared drug trafficking a national security threat. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 established mandatory minimum sentences, contributing to over 2 million incarcerations by 2020. Recent arrests of Malik Desmond Washington and Gerardo Solorio-Alvarado highlight ongoing challenges in addressing drug-related crime and the need for criminal justice reform.

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Gun Charges Filed

Malik Desmond Washington, 26, of North Charleston, S.C., was arrested for possessing a firearm as a felon after police responded to gunfire on November 21, with shell casings found and a gun found during search.
William Blas Hernandez, 28, of Gainesville, Fla., pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and firearm possession after a traffic stop.
Hernandez faces a minimum of ten years in federal prison, with sentencing set for February 10.

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