Seattle – Seven individuals have been indicted within the Western District of Washington in an investigation that started with a drug trafficking ring in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, introduced U.S. Lawyer Nick Brown. Over the previous 36 hours, regulation enforcement has taken all the defendants into custody, with three arrested in Arizona and 4 arrested in Seattle. As well as, two individuals named in indictments in Pittsburgh have been arrested within the Seattle space. These arrested in Seattle are being detained on the Federal Detention Heart at SeaTac, Washington pending future hearings.
“This investigation exhibits how drug trafficking rings work together throughout the nation – medication coming into Arizona are then transferred to distributors as geographically distinct as Seattle and Pittsburgh,” stated U.S. Lawyer Nick Brown. “Prosecutors and regulation enforcement right here have labored cooperatively to arrest and prosecute the important thing gamers chargeable for a whole bunch of 1000’s of probably lethal doses.”
“Cartel exercise of this nature is of explicit concern to HSI, and we proceed to prioritize investigations into people and organizations that illicitly introduce lethal fentanyl and firearms into our communities,” stated Particular Agent in Cost Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations within the Pacific Northwest. “This nationwide operation has introduced 90 people to justice, taken a considerable amount of weapons off of our streets, and serves as a message to different fentanyl trafficking organizations that we’ll not cease; for the protection and safety of the communities that we serve, we will’t cease as harmless lives are in danger.”
In line with information filed within the case, a key member of the drug conspiracy was arrested in Seattle on January 11, 2023. Bryce Hill is charged within the Western District of Pennsylvania with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. The Pittsburgh investigation started in 2018 and have become a wiretap investigation within the spring of 2022. The investigation recognized Bryce aka “Benji” Hill as a key distributor of medication within the Seattle space. Hill traveled, or had his associates journey, between Arizona and Seattle, bringing in medication and taking drug proceeds again to conspirators in Phoenix.
When investigators served search warrants on residences in Seattle related to Hill, they seized 5 firearms – together with assault fashion weapons and people with prolonged magazines.
One firearm had been modified to fireside totally computerized. Hill is prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of earlier convictions. At Hill’s house in Seattle, the place he was arrested, regulation enforcement seized about 27 kilos of fentanyl drugs. The medication have been nonetheless within the suitcases that they had traveled in from Arizona. Regulation enforcement additionally seized greater than $387,000 in money.
In all, some 60 individuals have been charged within the Western District of Pennsylvania. Over the previous ten months, investigators within the Pennsylvania-based case have seized greater than 673 kilos of fentanyl-laced faux prescription drugs, over 400 kilos of methamphetamine, and greater than 16 kilos every of fentanyl powder and cocaine, over $600,000 in money, 9 autos, and 47 firearms.
Yesterday alone, in reference to the arrests within the Seattle space, regulation enforcement seized:
- Seven further firearms for a complete of 21 related to this case
- Roughly $500,000 money
- A half kilo of cocaine
- Smaller quantities of crack cocaine and fentanyl drugs
The seven individuals indicted in Seattle allegedly conspired with Bryce ‘Benji’ Hill within the drug distribution scheme. These indicted embody:
Cierra Ward, 21, of Kent, Washington
David Theodore Carr, 43, of Phoenix, Arizona
Jaren Christopher Tran, 43, of Seattle
Shaunyae Allen, 37, of Oak Harbor, Washington
Jose Cortes 34, of Marysville, Washington
Aliana Lyla Khan, 34 of Scottsdale, Arizona
Kayla Vigil, 28, of Tempe, Arizona
Moreover, two defendants from Western Washington have been arrested on an indictment from the Western District of Pennsylvania:
Alicia Parks, 25, of Kent, Washington
Mohamed Kariye, 34 of Kent, Washington
“This group bought their illicit narcotics all through the U.S., from the Southwest border to the Pacific Northwest and all the way in which to the East Coast,” stated Jacob D. Galvan, Appearing Particular Agent in Cost of the DEA Seattle Subject Division. “Our federal partnerships as soon as once more have confirmed invaluable in defeating these organizations and holding their members accountable. In line with DEA labs, 6 out of 10 faux drugs comprise a doubtlessly deadly dose of fentanyl. With the seizure in a single Seattle house, our partnerships saved 162,000 lives.”
The costs contained within the indictment are solely allegations. An individual is presumed harmless until and till she or he is confirmed responsible past an inexpensive doubt in a courtroom of regulation.
This effort is a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Job Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level legal organizations that threaten america utilizing a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency method. Extra details about the OCDETF Program might be discovered at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Within the Western District of Washington, the investigation was led by Homeland Safety Investigation (HSI) with help from the FBI, DEA, and ATF. In Pennsylvania the investigation is being led by HSI and the FBI.
The case within the Western District of Washington is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vince Lombardi and Michelle Jensen.
