Tessa M. Gorman, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington
A King County woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for drug trafficking activities conducted from an RV near a state park. Chandler Bennett, 30, was convicted of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a machinegun. Her sentencing follows her arrest after a May 12, 2024 shooting incident in rural King County.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Lauren King stated, “You were taking deliveries of fentanyl at your mobile home… These crimes were egregious. You distributed a large amount of dangerous drugs.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller remarked on Bennett's role: “Ms. Bennett was a key player in the drug distribution activities, negotiating the prices for fentanyl and other drugs from the couple’s supplier.” The activities are said to have contributed significantly to the ongoing crisis of fentanyl abuse.
Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) had been investigating Bennett and her partner Braiden F. Wilson for their involvement in drug dealing on the dark web when deputies responded to the RV near Olallie State Park due to Wilson being shot. Upon investigation, law enforcement discovered surveillance cameras but were initially denied access by Bennett until they obtained a warrant.
Inside the RV, authorities found weapons and various forms of fentanyl along with equipment used for manufacturing tablets such as a manual pill press. They seized over two and a half kilograms of fentanyl-laced pills among other illegal items including firearms and explosives literature.
Further searches led to discoveries in storage units linked to Bennett and Wilson where additional pill presses and controlled substances were found. Records showed that Wilson had distributed controlled substances more than 2,000 times via his dark web identity amassing over $287,000 in cryptocurrency.
Bennett pleaded guilty in October 2024. Prosecutors emphasized how their actions endangered community members: “The manner in which Bennett and her co-defendant possessed the controlled substances placed others in danger.”
King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall praised local law enforcement efforts: “Because of the keen observation and perseverance of our patrol deputies... another criminal contributing to the fentanyl crisis is off the street.”
The case involved multiple agencies including HSI, King County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, USPIS, FBI, DEA with support from Washington State Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey Conzatti and Brian Wynne.
