Over the past 36 hours, law enforcement in Tacoma executed 13 search warrants and arrested eight of nine individuals indicted for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Five additional people were taken into custody on complaints related to firearms and narcotics found during searches of their homes and vehicles. Some of those arrested are identified as members of the Knoccout Crips street gang, which authorities have linked to drug trafficking and violence in Tacoma. The arrests follow an 18-month investigation that included a two-month wiretap, led by the FBI.
“Over the last 18 months, law enforcement carefully tracked the activities of this drug trafficking ring, seizing kilogram quantities of fentanyl pills and powder from checked luggage at Sea-Tac airport,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “The wiretap revealed the far-reaching scope of the conspiracy, with drug mules attempting to transport fentanyl from Arizona to Tacoma and in at least one instance on to Baltimore.”
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office, commented on the operation: “Yesterday, the FBI’s South Sound Safe Streets Gang Task Force, together with more than a dozen partner law enforcement agencies, conducted a large-scale takedown targeting violent criminal street gangs involved in drug distribution and other violent crimes in Pierce County. An 18-month investigation revealed that these gang members and associates were sending couriers down to a source of supply in Phoenix to bring huge quantities of fentanyl back to Washington state in their checked luggage for redistribution. This case is an example of the FBI’s commitment to combatting violent criminals and gangs, as emphasized in Operation Summer Heat, a nationwide initiative targeting violent criminals and restoring safety in our communities.”
The ten-count indictment lists Bryant K Moss Jr (also known as ‘BJ’), Gary Williams (“Fat Boy”), Dominique Woods (“Kane”), Joshua Logsdon (“Bird”), Michael Lewis, Dallas Martin, Josaphina Diaz, Forest Neal, and Genesis Moreau as defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Some face additional charges for possession or distribution between March 2024 and April 2025.
Seven others connected to this conspiracy were also arrested based on probable cause established through search warrants: James Whitaker, William Young, Bryant Moss Sr., Jaylin Irish, Dominique Buffington, Troy Harris, and An Do.
During the investigation leading up to this week’s arrests, law enforcement seized 34 kilograms of fentanyl, 45 kilograms of marijuana, and nine firearms. In just the last day-and-a-half alone they confiscated over two kilograms of fentanyl; significant amounts of cocaine (nearly 228 grams), methamphetamine (over six kilograms), heroin (about 41 grams), marijuana (more than 27 kilograms); $111,524.25 in cash; and another 23 firearms.
Because of the amount of drugs involved in this case some defendants could face mandatory minimum sentences of ten years if convicted.
The indictment states that all charges are allegations at this stage; all individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI’s South Sound Safe Streets Gang Task Force led this investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations; police departments from Tacoma and Lakewood; Pierce County Sheriff’s Office; Washington State Department of Corrections; Federal Air Marshal Service; Port of Seattle Police Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; Seattle Police Department; Washington State Patrol; IRS Criminal Investigations; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Fife Police Department; Thurston County Sheriff's Office; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kristine Foerster and Crystal Correa are prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of Operation Summer Heat—an initiative by the FBI aimed at reducing violent crime during summer months by increasing resources alongside local partners nationwide.
It is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation designed to identify disrupt and dismantle high-level criminal organizations threatening communities across America using a multi-agency approach led by prosecutors driven by intelligence efforts.
More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
