A massive crackdown on a multi-state drug trafficking conspiracy has yielded 14 indictments, with ties to a family-run operation based in Renton, Washington. The arrests, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, follow a two-year investigation that linked the ring to a fatal fentanyl overdose on the Lummi Nation reservation.
The operation was spearheaded by 31-year-old Marquis Jackson, who operated between Atlanta and his family's Renton home. A coordinated effort by law enforcement in Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, and Washington resulted in 17 arrests. Ten defendants arrested in Washington have been detained, and three were released on bond. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman noted, "Fentanyl continues to claim lives in our community – especially in our Tribal communities," signaling the urgency of combating the epidemic, as per the Department of Justice.
This family organization, which includes the parents of Marquis Jackson, distributed over 800,000 fentanyl pills across the United States. Richard A. Collodi of the FBI's Seattle office emphasized the national ramifications of dismantling this drug supply source.
Throughout the investigation, authorities seized a staggering amount of illegal substances and contraband, including 846,000 fentanyl pills and nearly 7 kilograms of fentanyl powder. They also secured 7 kilograms of cocaine, 29 firearms, and over $116,000 in cash. Among those apprehended in connection to the case were individuals linked through phone communication and surveillance to the Jackson drug trafficking organization, the U.S. Attorney's Office detailed.