HSI investigation leads to 21 arrested, 19 indicted in conspiracy to distribute cocaine
More than 70 firearms seized
SEATTLE — Twenty-one people were arrested today on indictments and criminal complaints charging an extensive drug dealing conspiracy by those who often illegally possessed firearms. Federal, state and local law enforcement teams from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, DEA, Washington State Patrol, Seattle Police Department and other public safety organizations executed nearly 90 search warrants across the Puget Sound region. In addition to 16 of the 19 people named in the indictments, five were arrested on criminal complaints. Those arrested will make their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle and Tacoma over the next few days.
“The success of this operation highlights the importance and necessity of law enforcement partnerships," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “This calculated cooperative approach among federal, state and local law enforcement partners illustrates our commitment to protect the public from these violent criminal networks who seek to profit from fear and terrorize our communities.”
Nineteen are charged in four related indictments of both drug and gun crimes. Many of those arrested in today’s takedown have criminal histories that preclude them from legally possessing firearms. Prior to today’s takedown, 33 firearms were seized from drug traffickers identified in this case. Today, 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
All are charged with drug distribution counts involving possession of cocaine. Brown, Kelley, Parrish and Snipes are charged with gun possession crimes, including being a felon while 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 73 firearms, over 12 kilos of cocaine, more than two pounds of methamphetamine, nearly $610,000 in cash, fentanyl pills and a fentanyl pill manufacturing lab.
Today’s arrests and searches included teams from HSI, FBI, DEA, Seattle Police Department, U.S. Marshal Service, Lakewood Police Department SWAT, Tacoma Police Department SWAT, Pierce County Sheriff's Office, North Sound Metro SWAT, Washington State Patrol SWAT, Valley SWAT, Kent Police Department, Renton Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, WA Liquor & Cannabis Board, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and Narcotics/Currency/Firearms K9 support from Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Centralia Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Snoqualmie Police Department, Auburn Police Department, Stillaguamish Police Department, Bothell Police Department, Anacortes Police Department, Puyallup Police Department, King County Sheriff's Office and Tacoma Police Department.
The charges contained in the indictments are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being prosecuted by the Western District of Washington United States Attorney’s Office.
HSI is a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 Special Agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
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