El Paso Man Sentenced to Over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm Charges
EL PASO – An El Paso man was sentenced last week to a total of 210 months in prison for trafficking drugs and illegal possession of firearms.
According to court documents, on October 6, 2021, Daniel Lee Burmeister, 37, was arrested after a search warrant was executed at a residence where Burmeister was staying. During the search, law enforcement officers found multiple firearms and fentanyl pills.
On June 1, 2022, Burmeister pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; one count of possession of an unregistered firearm; one count of possession of a firearm unidentified by a serial number; one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Burmeister has remained in federal custody since his arrest on October 6, 2021.
“This case demonstrates the inherently dangerous nature of drug-dealing in our society, particularly when it involves the deadly substance fentanyl and an offender who uses guns to further drug distribution activities,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “The sentence imposed by the Court as a result of the prosecution of this case serves to reinforce our commitment to hold offenders like Mr. Burmeister accountable and to protect our community from harm.”
“Fentanyl traffickers like Daniel Burmeister are driving addiction and killing Americans only to make a profit,” said Jeffrey R. Downey, FBI Special Agent in Charge, El Paso Field Office. “Burmeister will now serve seventeen and a half years in federal prison for being in possession of firearms as a convicted felon and using those weapons during his drug trafficking crimes. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities from the dangerous drug traffickers that are selling this poison in our neighborhoods.”
“This case is a clear example of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) collaborative efforts with FBI and law enforcement partners to remove those offenders who prey on our communities through drug trafficking and illegal firearms use,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.
The FBI and ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Rasmussen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
