Drug Trafficking Bust Nets 29 Arrests In Washington

TACOMA, WA — Nearly 30 people from Washington were arrested over a 24-hour period late last week in connection with a multi-state, international money laundering and drug trafficking investigation that’s been ongoing for the past 18 months.

In total, 29 men and women from around the Puget Sound were arrested between Dec. 5 and 6. Additionally, 39 firearms and roughly nine pounds of heroin were seized.

The mass arrest effort was conducted by more than 400 individuals representing federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which acted on 51 federal warrants allowing for the search of 50 buildings and 35 vehicles, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

Led by a drug cartel in Mexico, drug traffickers in Arizona, California, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington reportedly distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. To handle the money laundering, the traffickers relied on a cryptocurrency business based in Manhattan Beach, California, owned by 56-year-old Gregory David Werber, who is being tried in a Central California U.S. District Court.

“Overdoses involving fentanyl are growing at an alarming rate in Washington State,” U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes said in a statement. “We are committed to bringing all needed resources to identifying and prosecuting groups that distribute this deadly poison in our communities. I commend the Drug Enforcement Administration and their federal, state and local law enforcement partners who developed the evidence that led to the arrests that occurred today.””

According to the U.S. Attorney, the traffickers in Western Washington specifically distributed “heroin, crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills in Pierce, Kitsap, King, Skagit and Snohomish counties.”

Thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills were reportedly seized during the investigation, and a number of Washington State troopers required medical treatment after experiencing “accidental exposure” to the drugs during one particular bust.

“The dangerous pills containing fentanyl flowing through this pipeline operated by this Western Washington distribution network has been shut down,” DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis said in a statement. “Those profiting from pushing illicit opioids such as fentanyl and heroin into our most vulnerable communities will be met with a significant law enforcement response.”

The federal investigation reportedly began nearly two years ago following drug busts by the Bremerton Police Department.

“An agency the size of Bremerton can impact crime on a larger scale when it is able to partner with agencies like the DEA,” Bremerton Police Chief James Burchett said in a statement. “I am very proud of the hard work and dedication of all the officers and agents that made this operation a reality.”

The following individuals were arrested in Washington:

Auburn

• Timmy Crawford, 60
• Uriel Zelaya, 22

Bonney Lake

Burlington

• Orlando Barajas, 40
• Jose Luis Sierra Barrientos, 39
• Jaime Heredia Castro, 36

Edgewood

Everett

• Hector Manuel Urias Moreno, 27

Federal Way

Graham

Kent

• Juan Aviles Berrelleza, 23
• Carlos Eduardo Lopez Hernandez, 22
• Jesus Rene Sarmiento Valenzuela, 33

Lynnwood

• Andrew Cain Kristovich, 34

Puyallup

• Colin Beccaria, 28
• Martin Dean Gregory, 32
• Kurtis Nemyer, 49
• Lindsay Nemyer, 32
• Gerald Keith Riggins, 52

Snohomish

• Brian Lively, 44
• Esther La Rena Scott, 41
• Michael John Scott, 40

Spanaway

Seattle

Tacoma

• Natasha Djordjevic, 36
• Allex Hubly, 27
• David Hubly, 30
• Jerry A. Rodriguez, 27

Tukwila

• Oscar Humberto Carrillo Salcedo, 22

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