In a recent development that underscores the ongoing battle against organized crime and drug distribution networks, two defendants connected to an Aryan prison gang have entered guilty pleas to charges related to drug trafficking and firearms offenses. According to an announcement made by U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman, Ronald McComb and Gregory Beers made their pleas in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma. Both men were indicted in March 2023 as key operators within a substantial drug distribution organization.

As part of the plea agreement, 59-year-old McComb admitted to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and also being a felon in possession of a firearm—a condition that he had infringed due to previous felony convictions. The drug charge alone carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years due to the large amounts of narcotics involved. Throughout the investigation, recorded phone calls revealed McComb's role in coordinating the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills, with operations extending as far as Alaska. Furthermore, a traffic stop in February 2022 led authorities to find large cache of heroin and a 9mm handgun in his possession. He was arrested on March 22, 2023, where they seized methamphetamine, heroin, firearms, and substantial sums of cash and gold bars from his residence, with the latter items to be forfeited as drug trafficking proceeds according to his plea agreement.

31-year-old Beers entered a guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. His plea agreement detailed not only his drug distribution dealings involving large quantities of fentanyl pills and methamphetamine, but also his communication with inmates and his possession of firearms and luxury items accrued from his illicit activities. When authorities attempted to apprehend Beers, he discarded a loaded pistol and attempted to flee. He was eventually arrested in an RV in Tacoma, armed and in possession of drugs, cash, and jewelry. Prosecutors and defense attorneys have jointly recommended sentences of 13 years for McComb and 12 and a half years for Beers, though Chief Judge Estudillo is not bound by these recommendations.

The guilty pleas are the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation aimed to dismantle high-level criminal enterprises that threaten the United States. The collaborative effort included agencies such as the FBI, DEA, HSI, Tacoma Police Department, and other state and local law enforcement, revealing an interlinked approach to undermining sophisticated and entrenched drug trafficking operations. The case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon and Max Shiner, is scheduled for sentencing in September 2024. This information was affirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Washington.

Such cases shed light on the intricate and pervasive networks of crime that extend beyond prison walls, and the persistent efforts by law enforcement to bring these operations to justice. The guilty pleas represent not just a legal endpoint for the individuals involved, but a continuation in the tireless pursuit to safeguard communities against the multifaceted threats posed by drug distribution and organized crime.