Man given 10-year term for drug offense
A federal judge in Missoula on Monday sentenced a 23-year-old Washington man to 10 years in prison for his role in a botched drug deal that ended in a bloody shootout west of Kalispell last year.
David Michael Palumbo escaped on foot with a bag of cocaine on Dec. 5, 2009, after shooting one of two men who had attempted to rob him as the three rode in a blue Honda CR-V, according to an offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliot and court documents filed in District Court.
U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy issued the 120-month sentence, which also includes five years of supervised release, following Palumbo's guilty plea to felony possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug-trafficking crime.
Palumbo turned himself over to authorities on Dec. 10, 2009, in Stevens County, Wash., for violating parole by leaving Washington. He later was extradited to Flathead County where he initially faced a charge of attempted deliberate homicide.
That charge was dismissed May 10 after Palumbo's defense attorney called into question evidence collected from the vehicle where the shootout occurred because some evidence was destroyed before the attorney could inspect it.
The two men alleged to have attempted to steal cocaine from Palumbo - Bo Hanger and Brian Schloss - still face charges in Flathead County District Court.
According to court documents, Hanger said that Schloss approached him at a bar in Whitefish, asked him if wanted to make some money and then offered him $150.
Hanger, of Whitefish, told investigators that Schloss hatched a plan to rob Palumbo, who Schloss said would have both drugs and money. The two picked up Palumbo and began traveling on roads west of Kalispell.
Hanger was behind the wheel of the CR-V when Schloss and Palumbo, who was riding in the back seat, began to argue. He pulled the vehicle to the side of Four Mile Road, at which point gunfire was exchanged between Schloss and Palumbo, according to court documents.
Schloss, who lived in Kalispell at the time, was shot four times in the jaw and abdomen and Palumbo fled on foot uninjured.
Hanger was recorded by video surveillance at Kalispell Regional Medical Center dropping off Schloss. The camera also caught Hanger throwing away what was later determined to be a nylon holster for a handgun.
Authorities also located a 9-mm pistol in the Four Mile Drive area and found a magazine in Schloss' pocket that matched the magazine found in the gun. A round in the gun and rounds in the magazine also appeared to be the same type of ammunition found in Schloss' pocket, according to court documents.
Schloss is expected to go to trial next year on a charge of attempted robbery. An omnibus hearing has been scheduled for March 9, 2011. He pleaded not guilty to the charge on July 29 and said he had amassed close to $1 million in medical expenses.
Hanger is charged with accountability to robbery and tampering with/or fabricating evidence. He pleaded not guilty Dec. 31, 2009, and a trial has been scheduled for Jan. 5, 2011.
Both men currently are released pending trial.
Reporter Eric Schwartz may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at eschwartz@dailyinterlake.com.