5 indicted for using violence to traffic drugs into Seattle
Police arrest 5 accused of drug trafficking in Seattle's CID
Officials say they arrested and federally indicted five people for targeting Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. The suspects are accused of flooding the streets of the neighborhood with deadly drugs and guns.
SEATTLE - Federal and local authorities said they arrested and indicted five individuals accused of flooding Seattle’s Chinatown-International District with dangerous drugs and firearms.
"This community has been under siege," said Tessa Gorman, U.S. District Attorney.
What we know:
Officials said the investigation into these crimes lasted more than a year. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, those indicted include:
- Tommy Pham, 37, of Newcastle, Washington
- Donfeuy Saephan, 54, of Seattle
- Khampheth Keodara, 42, of Seattle
- Sang Tran, 54, of Kent, Washington
- Theodore Nation, 35, of Seattle
"The jungle drug trafficking organization preyed upon some of our most vulnerable community members: unhoused, people with substance-use disorders, people with mental health issues, and this drug trafficking organization not only callously preyed upon these vulnerabilities, they in fact charged more money for the drugs," said Gorman.
Gorman said the suspects are connected to more than drugs.
"This drug trafficking organization has a history of violence and used violence and the threats of violence to gain control of the drug trafficking in this area," said Gorman.
Gorman said investigators recovered 17 guns.
Recently, the Chinatown-International District has become notorious for violence and crime.
King County Metro even shut down bus services to some parts of the neighborhood due to safety issues.
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People who work within the CID said they are hopeful these arrests could lead to long-lasting change.
"That’s promising, hey, you know we’re actually going to put people in jail and keep them there," said Richard Rachford. "What’s the alternative? Nothing? Do nothing? Well, we’ve seen what happens when you do nothing. I mean I think, anyone who comes out here sees what happens when you do nothing," he added.
The Source: Information in this story is from the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. District Attorney Tessa Gorman.
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