FLINT MAN SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND POSSESSING A SHORT-BARREL RIFLE USED TO SHOOT A FLINT WOMAN (DOJ)

FLINT - Vincent "Vito" Galicia, 37, of Flint was sentenced yesterday to 228 months in federal prison for drug trafficking, possessing a short-barrel rifle, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced.

Gorgon was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF).

U.S. District Court Judge Shalina D. Kumar imposed sentence on Galicia following his guilty pleas to numerous charges including possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a short-barrel rifle. Judge Kumar also sentenced Galicia to XX years of federal supervised release following his release from incarceration.

According to court documents, in January of 2019, Flint Police executed a search warrant at Galicia's home where they seized two nine-millimeter pistols, one of which was stolen and equipped with a 50-round drum magazine; nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine; 85 grams of cocaine; and 289 grams of suspected methamphetamine. The police also seized over $8,000 in cash and various drug trafficking paraphernalia.

Galicia was initially charged in the State of Michigan 67th District Court. In March of 2021, while on bond, Galicia, who was armed with an illegal short-barrel semi-automatic rifle, broke into the home of a Flint woman with whom he had a romantic relationship. While inside the home, Galicia assaulted the woman and then shot her in the neck with the short-barrel rifle. Galicia transported the woman to McLaren Hospital after which he fled on foot leaving behind the woman and his vehicle. Galicia gunshot to the neck paralyzed the woman.

Officers from the Flint Police Department and the Michigan State Police responded to the woman's home where they found Galicia's short-barrel rifle, which had an obliterated serial number. Special agents from the ATF joined the investigation, and Galicia was subsequently charged in federal court with numerous charges related to both the 2019 and 2021 incidents.

"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."

This investigation was conducted by special agents of the ATF, in conjunction with the Flint Police Department and the Michigan State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Vance.

Updated January 27, 2026