Fifteen people, including two Burien men, were arrested today in local raids against what federal law enforcement officials said was a large cocaine distribution ring.
The two local men were identified as John Gerald House, 38, and Paul Peterson, 38. No further details were given.The arrests followed a year-long investigation of a family-based group suspected of buying and selling wholesale quantities of crack and cocaine, said a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle.
Altogether, 15 people were indicted this week, and arrests were made Thursday morning in Seattle, Kent, Burien, Edmonds and Des Moines. Seized in the raids were eight firearms, more than $40,000 cash and a large amount of cocaine, officials said.
Neighbors of houses in Kent and Edmonds were awakened when local police officers and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms served arrests warrants at a home in each city at about 6 a.m.“A minute to six we heard two loud bangs,” said Gary Chelin, who lives near the Edmonds home. “My wife and I got up, came out and looked at the street and it was lined end to end with minivans and SUVs full of police officers.”According to records filed in the case, some of the suspects allegedly sold the drugs from their Edmonds residence and also from a business, Extreme Auto Detail, 11027-A 1st Avenue S. in Seattle.
Many of those arrested possessed firearms despite multiple felony convictions, according the officials.
The investigation, lead by the ATF Violent Gang Task Force, used court authorized wiretaps to uncover the group’s drug dealing and illegal weapons sales and possession.
In one recorded phone call, Gary Kilcup, 39, of Edmonds, Washington, discussed how he “coulda whacked that (victim) himself,” after his son was arrested in connection with a shooting, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Kilcup, his sister, Nicola Kilcup, 36, of Seattle, and her husband Shawn Vanell Piper, 38, allegedly were key players in the distribution ring.
One of their primary cocaine suppliers Jose A. Morales Victoria, 37, of Des Moines was also arrested. All of the defendants arrested today made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle today at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
“Drug trafficking and firearms are a deadly mix,” said U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Sullivan. “The conversations recorded on the court authorized wire tap make clear the threat posed by those willing to protect their drug network with violence.”
“This operation has shown the diversity of the gang members in our communities. It included almost all ethnicities in the gang culture as well as both genders,” said Special Agent in Charge of the Seattle Field Division, Kelvin N. Crenshaw.
According to records filed in the case, Piper and Nicola Kilcup allegedly sold crack and powder cocaine from their home and the auto detail shop.
Throughout the investigation Piper, Kilcup and others sold cocaine to confidential informants. Many of the sales were captured on audio and video. Some of those arrested today are affiliated with area street gangs.
A grand jury returned a 19-count indictment against the group on Wednesday, charging conspiracy, cocaine distribution, and weapons violations.
Other suspects indicted by the grand jury were
Cedric Barquet, 37, Seattle Tanfred Arnez Russell, 36, Seattle John Gerald House, 38, Burien Christopher Terrill Scott, 33, Kent Lavelle Daniel, 31, Seattle Deandre Offord, 31, Seattle Paul Peterson, 38, Burien Daima Anderson-Ross, Seattle Jermaine Satterwhite, 34, Seattle Alicia Sykes, 36, Seattle Jodie Taylor, 35, Seattle