FBI busts up alleged Seattle drug ring. Arrests include prominent activist

Federal law enforcement officials in Seattle have announced the arrests of more than a dozen people charged with conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs and commit money laundering across multiple states. Those charged include a prominent voice in Seattle’s violence prevention efforts.

Representatives of the U.S. Attorney’s office, the FBI, and Seattle police said the arrests are the result of a two-year investigation into a fentanyl distribution ring that includes multiple members of one family.

The group’s activities are linked to the overdose deaths that killed four members of the Lummi Nation near Bellingham last September, according to Tessa Gorman, U.S. Attorney for Western Washington.

“This investigation revealed that the trafficking organization was a supplier to a community that was rocked by four fentanyl overdose deaths in just four days,” Gorman said in a statement. “Fentanyl continues to claim lives in our community — especially in our Tribal communities. We will do all we can to stop the flow of this deadly drug.”

RELATED: The grim reason fentanyl deaths are falling in King County

FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard Collodi said the drug ring distributed more than 800,000 fentanyl pills throughout the U.S., including in Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Montana, and Georgia.

Officials allege that the trafficking ring was led by 31-year-old Marquis Jackson, who they said splits his time between Atlanta and the home of his parents in Renton. His parents, Mandel and Matelita or “Marty” Jackson, have also been charged.

Marty Jackson is executive director of the SE Network SafetyNet initiative through Boys & Girls Clubs of King County that receives city and county contracts for violence prevention efforts in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of South Seattle, and in Seattle Public Schools. King County awarded the initiative nearly $193,000 for the 100 Days of Peace initiative this summer.

Charging documents accuse Jackson of helping the trafficking organization launder their money. She’s been released on bond.

A charging memorandum said she “mainly assisted the Jackson [drug trafficking organization] by helping launder their money both through structured deposits and using her account as a ‘pass-through’ account between Marquis and Markell Jackson and other members.”

The document said “Matelita has lengthy ties in the community and no prior criminal history.”

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Ten of 13 defendants arrested in Washington remain detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, pending upcoming hearings. The U.S. Attorney’s office said another family member charged in the investigation, Markell Jackson, is a fugitive still being sought by law enforcement.

Update 10/4/24: In a statement Thursday evening, Jayme Hommer, Chief Development Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of King County, referred to Marty Jackson as a "former" employee:

Hommer said, "The safety and protection of the young people we serve, and our dedicated staff is always our absolute highest priority, and we take any situation that might impact their well-being very seriously. Boys & Girls Clubs of King County has learned of the arrest of a former employee. Upon learning this information, our organization has taken corrective action. We will cooperate fully with authorities and have also launched an internal investigation to ensure the ongoing safety of Club members and staff."

Marty Jackson spoke about the "humbling experience" of discovering her son's gang involvement, and "how disconnected he felt from his family" in this 2017 interview with KUOW.

This is a developing story and will be updated.