Seattle – The Seattle Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, and Drug Enforcement Administration have been using targeted undercover operations to combat open air drug markets in Seattle. Today, U.S. Attorney Nick Brown joined Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and law enforcement leaders to highlight a series of arrests aimed at removing persistent fentanyl dealers—some of whom are illegally armed with firearms—from the 12th and Jackson area in Seattle’s International District.
In all 16 people have been arrested for felonies in the undercover operation.
“There are too many guns in our communities, and we’ve seen a significant increase in shootings throughout Seattle and a rise in violent crime. This week I convened a meeting of law enforcement leaders to share strategies on how federal agents and local police can work together to reduce community violence,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “In this undercover operation, we have charged three people federally, who were illegally possessing firearms while dealing fentanyl. The Department of Justice will do everything that we can to help break the cycle of crime—not only with federal prosecution—but also with support for programs that keep our youth out of the criminal justice system.”
Mar’jon Guyton, 21, of Kent, Washington is charged with two counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Ceandrick M. Davis, 29, of Seattle, is charged with distribution of fentanyl, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Cuong Cao, 54, of Seattle, is indicted for possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The first two defendants are detained at the Federal Detention Center pending further hearings. Law enforcement is actively looking for Cao.
A fourth defendant who was originally arrested for state charges at 12th and Jackson, is now facing federal prosecution following a second arrest, with a firearm at 3rd and Pike.
The King County Prosecutors Office is prosecuting 12 defendants in state court.