More than 100 guns, 11 kilos of fentanyl seized in drug trafficking bust

TACOMA, Wash. – Twenty-seven people have been indicted by grand jury on drug trafficking charges in Washington and other states, including the alleged leader, who is believed to be a member of a political prison gang. white supremacy.

Jesse James Bailey, 39, of Steilacoom, allegedly trafficked large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and other drugs in Washington, Idaho and Alaska. Bailey and the other defendants had a remand trial in Tacoma on Monday.

On March 22, law enforcement seized 177 firearms, more than 10 kilograms of meth, more than 11 kilograms of fentanyl in pill and powder form, 3 kilograms of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from 18 locations in Washington and D.C. Arizona.

Before being dismantled on March 22, the drug trafficking ring had been under investigation for about a year. During that time, law enforcement seized additional drugs, cash, and guns.

Jacob D. Galvan, acting special agent in charge of the Seattle Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), said: “The sheer amount of drugs seized during this investigation is astounding. “The fentanyl seized during this operation contained enough lethal dose to kill all the people living in Tacoma and Seattle, with the lethal dose remaining to poison half a million others.”

The following people have been prosecuted and are in custody, unless otherwise noted:

• Jesse James Bailey, 39 years old, of Steilacoom
• Thomas Carver, 59 years old, of Auburn
• Bryson Gill, 30 years old, of Buckeye, Arizona
• Yehoshua Kilp, 37 years old, incarcerated in Washington state prison
• Gustavo Castellanos-Tapia, 37 years old, from Burien
• Candice Bailey, 41 years old, of Steilacoom
• Ronald McComb, 58, of Ridgefield, Washington
• Keagen Larsen, 28, is currently being held at the King County Jail
• Sean Moinette, 54 years old, in Spain
• Gregory Beers, 30, of Edgewood, Washington, is being sought by law enforcement
• Michael Warren, 63, of Shelton, Washington
• Michael Slocumb, 44 years old, of Concho, Arizona
• Isaac Cervantes, 24 years old, in Phoenix
• Sara Thompson, 37 years old, of Bonney Lake
• Shawn Ellis, 31 years old, of Renton
• Eric Smith, 52 years old, incarcerated in Washington State Prison
• Joseph Hempel, 45 years old, from Burien
• Stephanie Yepez, 42, is being searched by law enforcement
• Daniel Hammond, 41 years old, in Puyallup
• Philip Boorkman, 40 years old, in Seattle
• C’La Morales, 36, of Pierce . County
• Ronnie Griffin, 64 years old, of Tacoma
• Anna Sarnes, 37 years old, from Quilcene
• Anthony Escoto, 51 years old, of Tukwila
• William Tripp, 34 years old, is being searched by law enforcement
• Dana Hanson, 57 years old, of Burbank, Washington
• Justin Hanson, 48 years old, of Burbank, Washington

The investigation was led by the FBI with investigative cooperation from the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, Washington State Department of Corrections, and local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and Thurston County Drug Task Force, directed by Thurston. County Sheriff’s Office.

The Washington State Air and Sea Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Force, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, the Lakewood Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service assisted the investigators. main.

On March 22, agents and officers from FBI Phoenix, DEA Phoenix Field Division, United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Puyallup and Vancouver Tribal Police, Pasco, Kennewick, Puyallup, Steilacoom and Burien police departments, Clark County Sheriff’s offices, Cowlitz, Jefferson, King and Benton all assisted in arrests and searches.

Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards released the following statement:

“Today, U.S. Attorney Nick Brown joined state and federal law enforcement officials in federal court in Tacoma to announce indictments against 27 individuals in the state of Washington. and Arizona involved in a large drug trafficking organization. Many members of the group were identified as part of the Aryan Family – a white supremacy group operating in Washington state prisons. I proudly commend the outstanding work of Tacoma Sheriff Avery Moore and the Tacoma Police Department, along with their law enforcement partners, in removing guns and illegal drugs from our streets. and deal a significant blow to the networks that profit from them. The success of this operation is testament to their tireless dedication and commitment to protecting and serving our community.”

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