United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SEATTLE - Eight people who were charged in a wide-ranging drug investigation that resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of suspected fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine were arrested earlier today.  All those arrested appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle today.

“The rising numbers of fentanyl overdoses is on the radar of all our law enforcement partners,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis.  “We will continue to prioritize disrupting the illicit distribution of this dangerous narcotic within our communities.”

 “While COVID-19 may have shut down many of our businesses, it does not seem to have put a dent in the illegal drug distribution business, causing harm to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.  “I commend the law enforcement officers who continue to do the work of tracking and seizing these illegal drugs—especially fentanyl pills—that are connected with overdose deaths in our community.”

The defendants indicted in this investigation include:

Jose Luis Ibarra-Valle, 37, a citizen of Mexico

Jesus Gutierrez-Garcia, 31, Everett, Washington

Jesus Garnica-Melgoza, 39, Seattle, Washington

Humberto Garcia, 39, Everett, Washington

Santos Caro, 35, Portland, Oregon

Charles Hoffman, 43, Tulalip, Washington

Lee Wallette, 36, Mountlake Terrace, Washington

Tisha Girtz, 38, Lake Stevens, Washington

On October 25, 2020, Ibare-Valle, who was living in Woodinville, Washington, was stopped by law enforcement in Seattle.  In his car law enforcement found approximately 10,000 pills believed to contain fentanyl, more than 20 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, and more than a kilogram of suspected heroin.

Over the course of the investigation law enforcement seized 16,000 suspected fentanyl pills, 30 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, and six pounds of suspected heroin.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, Washington State Patrol, Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force, United States Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake Stevens Police Department and Tulalip Police Department.  In addition to the agencies listed above, the following law enforcement agencies assisted with arrests and search warrants executed today: Everett ACT, North Sound SWAT, FBI SWAT and DEA Portland.  The investigation was supported by the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).  

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .