Yakima, Washington – A White Swan couple has been handed down sentences for a violent attack that left a victim traumatized. Sundron Larsell Miller, 37, received a 25-year federal prison sentence for Carjacking, Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Assault with Intent to Commit Murder. His accomplice, Paula Eulojia Cantu-Lopez, 28, was sentenced to 17 years for similar charges related to the incident. Both will face five years of federal supervision upon release from prison. The couple hails from White Swan, Washington.
Court records and testimonies revealed that Miller and Cantu-Lopez, who were in a romantic relationship, engaged in a brutal assault on the victim on December 28, 2021. The victim, an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, was driving with the couple near Fort Simcoe Road on the Yakama Reservation when the situation escalated. Miller initiated the violence by attacking Cantu-Lopez, leading to both assailants turning on the victim when she attempted to intervene.
During the altercation, the victim was forcibly removed from her own vehicle, and Miller tried to use her own rifle to take her life. Fortunately, the firearm was unloaded, but the victim endured physical abuse from both Miller and Cantu-Lopez. They then transported her to a residence in White Swan where the assault continued before the victim managed to escape and seek help.
The Yakama Nation Police Department swiftly responded to the incident, gathering evidence, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) aided in the investigation. The trial, presided over by Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian, concluded with a jury delivering verdicts on August 11, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Waldref commended the victim for her bravery in escaping the harrowing ordeal and cooperating with law enforcement to seek justice. The FBI’s Seattle field office also expressed dedication to eradicating such violence on state reservations, emphasizing collaboration with partners to achieve this goal.
This case was diligently investigated by the FBI and the Yakama Nation Police Department, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Murphy for the Eastern District of Washington. Justice was served, but the emotional and physical scars left on the victim serve as a grim reminder of the atrocities committed by the White Swan couple.