Seattle
Twenty-one people were arrested Wednesday on indictments and criminal complaints charging an extensive drug dealing conspiracy by defendants who often illegally possessed firearms, officials stated.
Law enforcement executed about ninety search warrants across the Puget Sound region from as far north as Everett and as far south as Spanaway, according to officials.
In addition to 16 of the 19 people named in the indictments, 5 additional defendants were arrested on criminal complaints.
Those arrested will make their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle and Tacoma over the nextfew days.
“Too often the intersection of drug dealing and gun possession leads to violence in our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “These defendants enriched themselves by feeding the addictions of the vulnerable and harming community health and safety. Community safety remains a priority for the Department of Justice.”
Nineteen defendants are charged in four relatedindictments with both drug and gun crimes.
Multiple defendants in today’s takedown have criminal histories that preclude them from legally possessing firearms.
Prior to Wednesday’s takedown, thirty-three firearms were seized from drug traffickers identified in this case. Wednesday, another 40 firearms were seized by law enforcement.
Those named in the indictments unsealed today include:
Eugene McGee, 54, of Federal Way, Washington
Larry W. Collins, 48, of Seattle, Washington
Johnathan F. Harrington, 43, of Seattle, Washington
Randolph P. Brown, 48 of Federal Way, Washington
Marco Calvert-Majors, 51, of Seattle, Washington
David A. Kelley, 52, of Seattle, Washington
Adam Anderson-Dotson, 41, of Seattle, Washington
Jerrell G. Ingram, 42, of Seattle, Washington
Kefentse Lumumba-Olabisi, 40, of Tacoma, Washington
Kenneth N. Lee, 58, of Tacoma, Washington
Edward Coleman, 65, of Tacoma, Washington
Jimmy J. Carter, 42, of Spanaway, Washington
Kevin L. Gipson, 45, of Seattle, Washington
Curtis G. Snipes, 50, of Tacoma, Washington
Richard D. Lewis, 47, of Seattle, Washington
Yusef H. Parrish, 51, of Seattle, Washington
Terry Cameron, 61, of Federal Way, Washington
Michael L. Hopkins, 51, of Tacoma, Washington
Jamar J. Howard, 48, of Renton, Washington
The defendants are all charged with drug distribution counts involving possession of cocaine and crack cocaine.
Brown, Kelley, Parrish, and Snipes are charged with gun possession crimes, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The five defendants arrested on criminal complaints today include:
Craig Jordan, 51, of Seattle
Carlos Daniels, 51, of Bellevue
Devon Evans, 46, of Seattle
Cesar Clemente, 41, of Renton, Washington
Terry Ezell, 54, of Seattle
Over the course of the investigation law enforcement seized thirty-three firearms, over ten kilos of cocaine, more than two pounds of methamphetamine, more than $160,000 in cash, fentanyl pills and a fentanyl pill manufacturing lab.
Wednesday, law enforcement seized an additional 40 firearms, nearly $450,000 in cash and nearly 4 pounds of cocaine.
“The arrests today exemplify the collaboration of agencies at all levels with one common goal, the safety of the citizens we’ve all sworn to protect,” said Donald M. Voiret, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Seattle Field Office. “The positive impact made by getting these subjects off the streets should be immediately felt by communities where they held sway for far too long.”
“The Seattle Police Department values its partnerships with federal and local law enforcement agencies because, by working together, we increase the likelihood of arresting violent offenders and taking weapons out of their hands,” said Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz. “Not only are these suspects and their guns off the streets, but so are dangerous narcotics, including fentanyl tablets and the tools to manufacture them. Our communities have been devastated by a recent rise in fentanyl deaths. The SPD is certain this joint effort saved lives, and we’re gratified the months of hard work by our officers and partners paid off.”
“Drug trafficking and violence are often intertwined, leaving communities and families devastated,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “This strategic collaborative approach between federal and local law enforcement demonstrates our commitment to not only serve, but also protect the public from these violent criminal networks who terrorize their neighborhoods.”
Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
firearms seized
