Seattle – A Maple Valley, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 10 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Heroin. Daryl Brandon Dennis, 33, was arrested in July 2021, following a 6-month investigation by the King County Sheriff’s Office. At today’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones noted the harm Dennis’ drug dealing did to the community saying, “the large volume of drugs” he possessed has an “impact on a large number of lives” and that Dennis has no idea who is harmed once he “put the drugs into the stream.”
“Sadly, fentanyl-involved deaths more than doubled in King County from 2020 to 2021. That troubling statistic highlights the importance of stopping the trafficking of these deadly drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Mr. Dennis’ storage trailer contained thousands of fentanyl pills, heroin, meth and cocaine, as well as a dozen firearms – four of them stolen. A dangerous combination for our community.”
According to records filed in the case, Dennis’ drug dealing came to the attention of King County Sheriff’s deputies in January 2021. For the next few months, detectives surveilled Dennis and arranged some undercover purchases. On July 2, 2021, investigators searched his home and car. Just prior to the court authorized search officers noticed Dennis loading duffel bags into the car – inside investigators found guns and drugs. Dennis led police to his storage trailer in Kent, Washington. Where they found 12 more guns, 2 grenades, and drugs including fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, mushrooms, MDMA and prescription narcotics such as Xanax.
“Illegal drugs have touched too many lives in King County,” said Interim Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall. “I could not be more proud to lead the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office. Together, we share a commitment to make communities throughout our region safer.”
Dennis was indicted federally in September 2021. He pleaded guilty in November 2021.
The case was investigated by the King County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).