In a sweeping federal indictment, Kevin Thissel, 28, and Christopher Johnson, 23, have been charged with utilizing terror tactics in a string of home invasions across three Washington counties, primarily targeting Asian families. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and RICO Conspiracy charges against the duo were announced by U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Currently held on other charges, the two suspects will be transported to federal custody to face these new allegations, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington.
Building a narrative of predawn violence beginning in the summer of 2022, the indictment details the modus operandi of the crew: dressing in black, feigning police identities, and brandishing firearms to instill a climate of fear. Thissel and Johnson, alongside their co-conspirators, allegedly executed an extensively coordinated operation involving surveillance, breaking, and corralling of frightened families to loot their valuables. "The indictment alleges that in the summer of 2022, these men targeted certain families for robberies. To create a climate of fear, these men burst into their homes in the middle of the night, dressed in black, claiming to be police, and with guns drawn,” Gorman elucidated in a statement made by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Their rampage included a tragic turn when a young mother was fatally shot in the presence of her 7-year-old child.
Agents from the FBI played instrumental roles in unraveling the case across jurisdictions, with FBI Seattle field office head, Richard A. Collodi underlining the impact of these assaults on the very sanctity of home safety. "These traumatic robberies and assaults occurred in the victims’ own homes where their families should have been safe," Collodi said, as reflected in a release. The collected charges encompass a series of harrowing events stretching from May to August 2022, headlined by heinous acts like kidnapping and murder, outlined in seven racketing acts.
The indictments send a piercing message that those who exploit specific community members will meet severe consequences. As emphasized by King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall, the immersive joint effort is critical to deterring future violence and dispensing justice. "Any crime targeting a particular group of people is particularly disturbing and atrocious," noted Sheriff Cole-Tindall, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington. These proceedings are reminders of the legal system's persistent pursuit to undergird the communities it serves with protection and recourse. It is unequivocally noted, however, that the charges in the indictment remain allegations until proven in a court of law.
