Latest news with #TealLuthyMiller
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Burien man sentenced for role in Aryan prison drug trafficking ring
This story was originally published on A man known as a 'major redistributor' for a drug trafficking ring connected to Aryan prison gangs in the South Sound was sentenced to 126 months in prison, acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller confirmed. Joseph Hempel, 46, from Burien, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and being a felon in possession of a firearm in March 2024. He delivered and distributed drugs for Jesse James Bailey, the leader of one of the three branches of the drug distribution organization. Bailey pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on June 13. 'At various times on the wiretap, law enforcement heard Mr. Hempel order as much as 25 pounds of methamphetamine and 20,000 fentanyl pills,' Miller said in a prepared statement. 'Distributing such large loads of narcotics meant that both the reach and the damage from Mr. Hempel's drug activity was widespread in our community.' An 18-month wiretap investigation found that the three interconnected drug trafficking rings were a part of the Aryan Family/Omerta Drug Trafficking Organization. The investigation came to a head when law enforcement made two dozen arrests, requiring the involvement of 10 SWAT teams and more than 350 law enforcement officers. Officers seized 177 firearms, more than 10 kilos of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills, more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from 18 locations in Washington and Arizona. The investigation previously netted 830,000 fentanyl pills, 5.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, 223 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 pounds of heroin, five pounds of cocaine, $388,000 in cash, and 48 firearms. 'Hempel ordered and distributed large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin for the purpose of redistributing it throughout the community,' prosecutors wrote to the court. 'These drugs have a devastating impact. Users of these drugs frequently resort to stealing—from family members, friends, and complete strangers—to feed their addictions. No doubt, drug users are responsible for a large percentage of these crimes, as well as the violent crimes, in our communities.' Hempel's residence contained 1,003 fentanyl pills, 1.6 kilograms of heroin, three kilograms of marijuana, 11 drug scales, a drug ledger, and $14,799 of drug proceeds. Law enforcement officers also found body armor, ammunition, and multiple firearms, including multiple shotguns (one with an obliterated serial number) and rifles. Hempel was previously convicted of car theft and possession of stolen property.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
DOJ: Fourteen indicted, 11 arrested in Seattle-area drug trafficking case tied to CID encampments
Fourteen people were indicted and 11 arrested as part of a sweeping federal drug trafficking investigation targeting narcotics distribution in Seattle's Chinatown-International District and surrounding homeless encampments, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller at a press conference in Seattle. The indictments, announced in late May and followed by coordinated arrests last week, stem from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the FBI, Seattle Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration. Officials say the defendants trafficked large quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl from California into Western Washington. 'This trafficking group was a major supplier of deadly drugs to the International District and other communities throughout the Seattle area,' said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division. 'The fentanyl powder and pills our team seized in this case could have yielded enough lethal doses to kill everyone in Seattle twice.' The 14 individuals are charged in two separate indictments. Seven are accused of conspiring to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin, while the other seven face charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. Octavio Salazar Palma, 33, of Federal Way, WA Luis Soto Lara, 47, of Vancouver, WA Juan Ramirez Recinos, 41, of Burien, WA (fugitive) German Juarez-Otanez, 34, of Bothell, WA (fugitive) Alexander Emilio Cozza, 42, of Seattle Marco Antonio Bobadilla, 33, of Pacific, WA Isai Gamboa Pacheco, 55, of Everett, WA Daniel Ibarra Loera, 31, of Kent, WA Jose Garcia Corona, 61, of Seattle Leonardo Rojas Cruz, 53, of Federal Way, WA Oscar Omar Serrano Serrano, 31, of Algona, WA Juan Lopez Roblero, 43, of Tukwila, WA Giovanni Antonio Garduno Garcia, 46, of Issaquah, WA Sang Su, 44, of Seattle (U.S. citizen, fugitive) Investigators executed 16 search warrants on May 29 across Washington, Oregon, and California, including locations in Federal Way, Everett, Issaquah, Kent, and Seattle. Authorities seized more than seven kilograms of cocaine, 18 kilograms of methamphetamine, 57,000 fentanyl pills, 17 firearms, and $353,000 in cash. Seattle Police Chief Shon F. Barnes said the group 'preyed on the homeless and drug addicted' and 'terrorized people living and working in the Chinatown-International District and South Seattle.' He praised the coordinated work of detectives and federal agencies. The case builds on previous charges filed in January 2025, when five Washington-based individuals connected to the same trafficking operation were indicted. Since then, law enforcement expanded its efforts beyond Washington, tracking the drug supply chain to sources in Oregon and Southern California. In March 2025 alone, the investigation led to the seizure of 100 pounds of meth, 111 kilos of cocaine, 19 kilos of fentanyl powder, 250,000 fentanyl pills, and four kilos of heroin—an estimated street value of nearly $3 million. The suspects face a range of federal charges that, in some cases, carry mandatory minimum prison sentences of 10 years. Officials are still working to determine the citizenship status of several defendants. 'This investigation draws from the resilience of our communities,' said Acting Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke of IRS-Criminal Investigation in Seattle. 'Illegal drug trafficking devastates lives and affects us all.' The investigation involved multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Washington National Guard Counterdrug Program, Oregon State Police, and the Clark County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Conzatti and Brian Wynne are prosecuting the case. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Portland man convicted after trying to meet children for sex at Seattle hotel
This story was originally published on A 64-year-old man from Portland has been sentenced to four years in federal prison after traveling across state lines to have sex with minors, according to a news release from Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller Tuesday. Marc David McCool was arrested on May 16, 2024, after arriving at a Seattle-area hotel where he believed he would meet a 7 and 11-year-old for sex. According to case records, McCool had initially reached out to a social media ad posted by undercover agents. For more than six weeks, police said McCool described his sexual interest in children over the Kik Messenger app. Ultimately, McCool decided to travel to Seattle. He was arrested after traveling by train and a rideshare to a Seattle hotel. When police arrested McCool, they allegedly found condoms, baby oil, rope, and stuffed animals. In court, McCool said his life has been forever changed. He told the judge he had lost everything and harmed his relationships with everyone he loves. He expressed hope of receiving treatment while in prison. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation as part of the Seattle Police Department Internet Crimes against Children Task Force.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
Pierce County woman is sentenced to 7 years in prison for drug and gun possession, feds say
A 39-year-old Pierce County woman was sentenced to 84 months in prison for drug and gun possession, acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington announced on Friday. C'La Morales was arrested as part of a drug trafficking investigation of three interrelated drug distribution organizations tied to Aryan prison gangs operating inside and outside state prisons, according to a news release. Morales was a member of the drug ring that trafficked fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine and possessed multiple firearms, according to court records filed in the case. Wiretap evidence in the case also revealed she was purchasing and distributing 10 ounces of heroin and 10,000 fentanyl pills at a time, according to the release. Morales also was sentenced to five years of supervised release following prison. Two others with ties to Morales are set to be sentenced. Jesse Bailey, who prosecutors describe as a 'top-level leader of the drug trafficking ring,' is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16. His wife and co-conspirator Candace Bailey is scheduled for sentencing on June 13. The Morales prosecution is one of some two dozen related to an investigation of South Sound based drug trafficking rings, according to the release. In March 2023, law enforcement made two dozen arrests on federal charges. The effort involved 10 swat teams and more than 350 law enforcement officers, according to the release. They seized 177 firearms, more than 10 kilos of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona. Earlier in the investigation law enforcement seized 830,000 fentanyl pills, 5.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, 223 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 pounds of heroin, 5 pounds of cocaine, $388,000 in cash, and 48 firearms, according to the release. This investigation was led by the FBI with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the state Department of Corrections, Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff's Office and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force. Primary investigators also received help from Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff's Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Seattle man sentenced to 90 months for drug trafficking, firearm offenses
This story was originally published on A 50-year-old Seattle man has been sentenced to 7-and-a-half years in prison for drug trafficking and carrying a firearm as part of the crime, acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced. Phuong Nguyen Le was arrested after a drive-by shooting in Seattle's International District in February 2023 and was indicted in May 2023. Le was arrested with a loaded firearm and had fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine on him. He fired several shots from his car in the Little Saigon neighborhood at the intersection of 10th Avenue South and South King Street. The presiding judge said Le's actions posed a significant risk to the community. 'Local and federal law enforcement continue to work to increase safety in the International District. This case exemplifies our collaboration with the King County Prosecutor's Office and the Seattle Police to pursue federal prosecution where it has the most impact,' said acting U.S. Attorney Miller. More from MyNorthwest: Tesla Cybertrucks burn overnight in Seattle, KIRO Newsradio reporter threatened with knife while covering Drug trafficking were among the charges stemming from the 2023 shooting Seattle Police officers responded to reports of shots fired in the Little Saigon neighborhood on February 24, 2023. Witnesses reported seeing a man in a white Mercedes firing a handgun into the air. Police located the vehicle nearby with Le driving and his girlfriend in the passenger seat. Prosecutors emphasized the danger posed by Le's combination of drug distribution and firearm possession, stating, 'Le's actions placed the community at significant risk and warrant a substantial custodial sentence.' Le will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. He has prior convictions, including a 2012 conviction for cocaine distribution and a 2020 sentence for illegal firearm and drug possession. The Seattle Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. More from MyNorthwest: Washington House passes divisive bill to ease misdemeanor dismissals
