Thomas Carver, the 61-year-old Auburn man who served as the second-in-command of a multi-state drug distribution network associated with the Aryan Family prison gang, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. According to a statement made by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Carver's history of drug trafficking convictions painted the portrait of a man deeply entrenched in illegal activities, culminating in this latest conviction for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
During his sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo underscored the regional impact of Carver's actions, saying, “You are not a local dealer. You are someone who helped sell and distribute across the region… What is alarming are the references to these different flavored or colored pills now that are out there potentially in our streets. I do think their intent is to bring in new users…. as in younger individuals who can be easily swayed by these things," as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington. The investigation, spanning two years, resulted in the seizure of 223 pounds of methamphetamine and 830,000 fentanyl pills among other drugs, manifesting the scope of this drug ring's influence.
U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman didn't mince words when she addressed the gravity of Carver's involvement, asserting, "The leaders of this drug ring spread so much misery throughout our area," as per the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington. She highlighted the stark contrast between Carver's battles with methamphetamine addiction and his role in propagating the same suffering within the community by distributing large amounts of dangerous substances, including fentanyl, a drug linked to rising overdose deaths.
The broader effort to dismantle organized crime saw Carver as the seventh member of the drug ring to receive a prison sentence, with punishments for defendants ranging from 20 to 50 months to as much as 13 years in prison. Jesse James Bailey, identified as the drug ringleader, entered a guilty plea last month and is awaiting sentencing scheduled for February 28, 2025, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington. Assistant United States Attorneys Max Shiner and Zach Dillon led the prosecution, emphasizing the multi-agency collaboration that brought this case to fruition.
