Bryson Gill, a co-leader of a drug distribution network, has been sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison. The sentencing took place at the U.S. District Court in Tacoma for his involvement in distributing narcotics, money laundering, and possessing firearms related to drug trafficking. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced the sentence.
Gill, 32, formerly of Buckeye, Arizona, moved his operation to Arizona after a raid on their stash house in Shelton, Washington, in December 2022. He was arrested in March 2023.
Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo remarked on the gravity of the offenses: “The seriousness of these offenses cannot be understated. There are so many people out there that become addicted on these drugs or suffer overdoses and are no longer with us.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Miller noted that "Gill’s drug ring used violence and threats of violence as their stock in trade." Gill had plans to expand his operations with laundered funds: “With the more than $1 million he laundered, Gill bragged that he was going to set up a compound with an airfield in Arizona to further his drug trafficking."
Court records show that this organization was part of three groups dealing drugs in Puget Sound with ties to Aryan prison gangs. In late 2022, Gill coordinated with Michael Slocumb for transporting narcotics from Arizona to Washington using pill presses for fentanyl production.
During searches on December 9, 2022, law enforcement seized over 640,000 fentanyl pills and significant quantities of methamphetamine along with firearms and cash from their properties.
Gill discussed plans with Slocumb about relocating operations to Arizona after law enforcement interference thwarted kidnapping attempts against another dealer under federal investigation.
From May 2021 until December 2022, Gill laundered nearly $927,059 through accounts disguised as a dog training business funding luxury items like cars and jewelry.
Prosecutors requested the sentence citing Gill's leadership role: “Gill played a leadership role in purchasing... massive quantities of fentanyl pills... (Washington State Department of Health) data shows the number of drug overdose deaths occurring annually in the state more than doubled from 2019 to 2023."
Gill pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025.
A coordinated takedown on March 22, 2023 involved multiple arrests across locations seizing substantial amounts of drugs and firearms.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by FBI alongside DEA and other agencies including local police departments contributing significantly throughout the investigation process.
Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner, and Jehiel Baer are prosecuting this case.
