A Lewis County resident, Michael Lee Draper, 47, appeared in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on charges of unlawful possession of firearms. The announcement was made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Draper is barred from owning firearms due to previous criminal convictions. In 2009, he received a 13-year prison sentence for possessing firearms illegally, including a stolen weapon.
Prosecutors intend to request that Draper remain detained until his trial, with a hearing set for March 2, 2026.
Court records indicate that Draper was being investigated for theft from his former employer, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. On January 22, 2026, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office pursued a truck driven by Draper after reports of reckless driving. The vehicle crashed through a fence on rural property. A passenger was arrested at the scene.
Draper fled but was later found and apprehended in a wooded ravine with assistance from a Washington State Patrol surveillance aircraft.
Investigators discovered that Draper was suspected of making fraudulent purchases using credit accounts belonging to his former employer. Some of these items were found in the back of the truck he was driving. Authorities also recovered two polymer firearms—a handgun and an AR-style rifle—both classified as “ghost guns” because they lack serial numbers and were produced with a 3D printer. Drug paraphernalia and suspected crystal methamphetamine were also found in the vehicle.
Draper had been held in state custody in Thurston County before appearing on federal charges.
Unlawful possession of a firearm carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and fines reaching $250,000.
“The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” according to the press release.
Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate theft allegations related to Draper’s employment with the Cowlitz Tribe. He currently faces five state counts of first-degree theft in Lewis County.
The investigation involves the Cowlitz Tribal Police, Thurston County Sheriff’s Department, and FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore is prosecuting the case.
