Michael Warren, 65, of Shelton, Washington, was sentenced to 90 months in prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation linked to Aryan prison gangs. He was arrested in March 2023 following a two-year federal investigation. A raid on his home in December 2022 led to the seizure of two pill presses, over 640,000 fentanyl pills, a kilo of fentanyl powder, and 23 firearms. Judge David G. Estudillo stated, “the crime is unquestionably serious based on the amount of narcotics found at his residence and the presence of firearms.” U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman said, “Mr. Warren was a key drug transporter, manufacturer and distributor causing untold harm in our community,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Warren, an associate of drug ring leader Bryson Gill, helped manufacture pills, store contraband, and transport meth and fentanyl from Arizona. Gill pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on May 9. A major raid on March 22, 2023, involving 350 officers and ten SWAT teams, led to two dozen arrests and the seizure of drugs, cash, and 177 firearms across Washington and Arizona. The group's leader, Jesse Bailey, and his wife, Candace Bailey, face sentencing on May 16 and June 13, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces conducted an investigation into drug trafficking, led by the FBI with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and multiple law enforcement agencies, including Tacoma Police, Pierce County Sheriff's Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force. Additional support was provided by Washington State Patrol, CBP Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff's Office, Lakewood Police, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The cases resulting from the operation are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner, and Jehiel Baer, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.