Seattle – A Seattle-area woman, who recently finished serving a 16-year sentence for second degree murder, is charged federally for drug distribution and illegal firearms possession, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Raven Marlyne Hudson was initially arrested on state charges July 12, 2022, in Seattle’s University District, after she rammed a law enforcement vehicle while trying to avoid arrest. A court authorized search of her vehicle revealed a variety of illegal drugs and two firearms – one of them stolen.
Hudson made her initial appearance on the federal charges today. She remains detained pending another hearing on October 5, 2022. Hudson was released from state custody on the murder conviction in January 2022.
According to the criminal complaint, in early 2022, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) agents and Seattle Police Narcotics Detectives began investigating Hudson as a significant drug dealer in the Seattle area. In June, a person working with law enforcement ordered fentanyl pills from Hudson. Following that drug sale, law enforcement surveilled Hudson’s activities, seeing her move around to high-frequency drug trafficking areas. On July 12, 2022, agents and officers blocked Hudson’s car as she parked in Seattle’s University District. Hudson rammed one of the HSI vehicles before ultimately being removed from her car and arrested.
When investigators executed a court-authorized search warrant on Hudson’s car, they recovered more than 600 grams of methamphetamine, more than 118 grams of fentanyl powder, about 6,700 fentanyl pills, plus heroin and cocaine. Two Glock firearms were in the car. One of the Glocks was reported stolen, the other had a 25-round extended capacity magazine. Both guns were loaded with a round chambered.
Hudson cannot legally possess firearms due to prior convictions. In 2006 she was convicted in Kitsap County of Second-Degree Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. In 2004 in Grays Harbor Superior Court, she was convicted of Theft of a Firearm.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In this case, because of the drug quantities involved, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is punishable by a mandatory minimum five-year prison term to run consecutive to any other sentence. Unlawful possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Seattle Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.