Flint, MI – A Flint man who combined large-scale drug trafficking with extreme violence has been sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison after shooting and permanently paralyzing a woman during a domestic attack while out on bond.
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Vincent “Vito” Galicia, 37, of Flint was sentenced Monday to 228 months, or 19 years, in federal prison following his guilty pleas to multiple felony offenses including possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of an illegal short-barrel rifle.
U.S. District Court Judge Shalina D. Kumar imposed the sentence after Galicia admitted to running a significant drug operation while armed with multiple illegal firearms. He will also be placed on federal supervised release after completing his prison term.
The case began in January 2019 when Flint Police executed a search warrant at Galicia’s home. Officers seized two nine-millimeter pistols, including one that was stolen and fitted with a 50-round drum magazine, nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine, 85 grams of cocaine, and another 289 grams of suspected meth. Police also recovered more than $8,000 in cash and drug trafficking equipment.
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Galicia was charged in state court and released on bond, but the situation escalated dramatically in March 2021. While awaiting trial, he armed himself with an illegal short-barrel semi-automatic rifle and broke into the home of a woman with whom he had a romantic relationship. Inside the home, Galicia assaulted her and then shot her in the neck with the rifle, leaving her permanently paralyzed.
After the shooting, Galicia transported the woman to McLaren Hospital and then fled on foot, abandoning both the victim and his vehicle. Police responding to the scene recovered the short-barrel rifle, which had its serial number obliterated. The case was then taken over by federal authorities with assistance from the ATF.
porch showing Galicia arrive with short-barrel rifle
Federal prosecutors charged Galicia with crimes tied to both the 2019 drug operation and the 2021 shooting, combining the cases into one of the most serious violent drug prosecutions in the region.
“This armed drug dealer broke into a woman’s home where he shot and paralyzed her. And perhaps most disturbing, he was somehow on bond at the time—even though he had been caught with guns, almost a kilo of meth, and cocaine. This case is an exemplar of the federal/state partnership that prosecutes the most dangerous armed criminals in our community,” U.S. Attorney Gorgon said.
“Vincent Galicia is a violent, heavily armed drug trafficker whose greed led him down a destructive path. He chose a life devoted to peddling poison in our community while armed with an illegal firearm. Rather than self-reflect on his misdeeds after his arrest, he chose to arm himself once again with an illegal firearm while waiting for a resolution on his state case. Then, Galicia chose to engage in a far worse crime – domestic violence. Galicia shot his girlfriend in the neck and permanently paralyzed her. Galicia’s consistent disregard for the well-being of our community members is repulsive” said ATF Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir.
“Let this be a cautionary tale to all the would-be illegally armed domestic abusers/drug dealers in our community; when you arm yourself with illegal firearms, abuse women, and/or traffic drugs in our communities, you should pack your bags for prison. This sentence should send a clear warning across Michigan—ATF and our partners will find you, prosecute you, remove you from our streets, and send you to a galaxy far, far away called the Federal Bureau of Prisons.”
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