Quincy man sentenced in controlled substance homicide
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 hour, 46 minutes AGO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | May 6, 2026 6:31 PM
EPHRATA — A Quincy man was sentenced to two years in prison in connection after he pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter Tuesday.
Abraham Florez Velazquez pleaded guilty and was sentenced in connection with the December 2024 death of Ariel Armas Flores, 27, Quincy.
“An autopsy concluded Armas died from an overdose of fentanyl that investigators say was furnished by Florez,” said Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, in a media release.
In a separate interview, Foreman said that Florez was charged with a controlled substance homicide. Those are cases where the victim dies from using controlled substances furnished by the defendant.
Grant County’s Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team worked with the Quincy Police Department on the investigation, and Foreman said INET’s expertise has led to more controlled substance homicide investigations in the county.
“Over the past few years, INET has been investigating most of the controlled substance homicides,” he said. “INET has the expertise.”
Its officers investigate controlled substance homicides in unincorporated Grant County and help most of the cities in the county with their investigations, Foreman said.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Quincy man sentenced in controlled substance homicide
EPHRATA — A Quincy man was sentenced to two years in prison in connection after he pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter Tuesday. Abraham Florez Velazquez pleaded guilty and was sentenced in connection with the December 2024 death of Ariel Armas Flores, 27, Quincy. “An autopsy concluded Armas died from an overdose of fentanyl that investigators say was furnished by Florez,” said Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, in a media release. In a separate interview, Foreman said that Florez was charged with a controlled substance homicide. Those are cases where the victim dies from using controlled substances furnished by the defendant.
Cause of Mattawa-area fire still under investigation
MATTAWA — The cause of a fire that destroyed a Mattawa-area wine production facility Tuesday is still being determined. “I’d say it’s still under investigation at this time,” said Derek Beach, deputy fire marshal for Grant County, Wednesday. Fire crews were briefly called back to Central Washington Wine Production Group facility and tasting room Wednesday. The fire that destroyed the facility about three miles north of Mattawa was originally reported at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Crews were on the scene for most of Tuesday evening.
Scam victim hopes to keep others from falling victim
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake woman lost thousands of dollars to a scammer earlier this week, a story that Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, said was all too familiar. “The scammer’s career is based on the fact they’re very, very good at convincing people they’re legitimate,” Foreman said. “The contacts are meant to be convincing.” The victim declined to give her name, but said the scammers had what seemed like legitimate answers to the questions she asked. She was concerned that other people would become victims of the same scam. She also wanted people to know what it took to protect herself after she became aware of the scam.