A Puyallup man who shot and killed two men who had entered the Pierce County garage where he was growing marijuana, pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to manufacturing marijuana and possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Jeremy Peter Capodanno, 36, also owned a house in Kent. He was arrested in April. Use of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking carries a five-year mandatory minimum term. Under the terms of the plea agreement, he is forfeiting nearly $670,000 in proceeds from the sale of his Puyallup home and a second home in Kent, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office media release.
Capodano is also forfeiting a 2008 Mercedes, a 2008 Toyota pickup truck and five firearms seized at the crime scene. Sentencing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton on Jan. 17.
“The defendant’s conduct put the safety of our community and his family at risk. He armed himself expecting trouble, and unfortunately he got it,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “Consistent with our enforcement priorities, we continue to focus on those who bring violence and use firearms to protect illegal drug businesses.”
On Dec. 6, Capodanno shot two people who had broken into the garage of his Puyallup residence – killing both of them. In the garage loft was a marijuana grow with nearly 200 plants. When police officers arrived, they found Capodanno in possession of a Glock 17, 9mm semiautomatic pistol, which is the gun that he used to kill the two men.
While searching Capodanno’s truck, police found additional marijuana as well as other weapons including a Bushmaster XM-15 assault rifle; an Intratec Tec-9 9mm pistol; a Benelli 12-gauge shotgun; and a Professional Ordinance MDL Carbon 15.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
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