Modesto man with ‘extensive’ criminal history sentenced to 19 years for meth trafficking
A Modesto man was sentenced to 19 years and seven months in prison on Monday for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
Andrew Satariano, 43, was arrested on Sept. 4, 2021, after the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department received a tip about a man driving a suspicious vehicle in Waterford with a rifle and a nude woman inside.
When officers attempted to make a traffic stop, Satariano sped away, stopped the vehicle briefly to let the female passenger out, then fled again reaching speeds of about 100 mph, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The female was later located and released with no injuries or criminal charges.
During the pursuit, Satariano struck two other vehicles before crashing and disabling his car. He then fled from the car and hid nearby, and was found and arrested by police.
Deputies found over 850 grams of methamphetamine and two loaded handguns in Satariano’s car — one of which was stolen and had a high-capacity magazine attached, according to the release. He was sentenced on the drug charges.
Criminal history includes connection to Modesto officer shooting
Satariano’s sentence reflects his “extensive criminal history” starting in 2001, which included prior convictions for evading police, according to the release.
The license plate of the “suspicious vehicle” he was driving when he was arrested in 2021 was associated with a subject wanted by the Modesto Police Department for his involvement in the shooting of Officer Michael “Mikey” Rokaitis.
His arrest came one day after police released body camera footage of the Aug. 14, 2021, shooting of the officer.
Rokaitis was serving a search warrant at an Orangeburg Avenue home in Modesto when another suspect, 42-year-old Jesse James Collins Brooks, opened fire. Rokaitis was shot twice — once in his ballistic vest and a second time below his vest in his lower abdomen, which injured an artery to his right leg.
As of 2021 Bee reporting, Rokaitis had undergone seven surgeries after the shooting, including one to have part of his right leg amputated. He spent 12 days in the ICU.
Satariano was wanted in connection with firearms, methamphetamine and fentanyl found in the home.
