A Kent man is one of five men indicted by a grand jury for reportedly drug trafficking in Seattle homeless encampments known as “The Jungle” and the International District.
All five are in custody and recently made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle, according to a Jan. 15 U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) press release.
“We are all focused on increasing community safety, especially in Seattle’s International District,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “The Seattle Police Department, the FBI, DEA, and other law enforcement partners have worked tirelessly to identify members of this drug ring who are peddling drugs in the International District and homeless encampments. They prey on the most vulnerable and with guns and threats increase the danger on our streets.”
The indicted men are Sang Tran, 54, of Kent; Tommy Pham, 37, of Newcastle; Donfeuy Saephan, 54, of Seattle; Khampheth Keodara, 42, of Seattle; and Theodore Nation, 35, of Seattle.
“This organization took advantage of many people’s addictions, homelessness, and other vulnerabilities, often using violence or threats of violence,” said W. Mike Herrington, special agent in charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Together with our partners, the FBI will continue to pursue drug trafficking organizations and remove dangerous individuals from our communities to keep Seattle and Washington state safer.”
According to records filed in the case, the investigation began in November 2023, with the Seattle Police, FBI, and DEA focusing on a drug trafficking organization dealing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin in the homeless encampments of Seattle and in drug trafficking areas of the International District at locations such as 12th and Jackson.
Some of the defendants were arrested with firearms. Using a court authorized wiretap, investigators gathered evidence of the drug trafficking and made arrests and seizures over the course of the investigation. Law enforcement heard intimations of violence on the calls and worked to intervene without tipping off the targets of the investigation.
During the arrest operation over the last few days, law enforcement seized 17 firearms and 23 kilos of suspected fentanyl powder.
Five defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Nation is charged with possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. Pham and Tran are charged with distribution of controlled substances. Pham is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm because he has criminal history that bars him from possessing firearms.
The current charges carry a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison for the conspiracy and some drug counts, according to the U.S. DOJ. Possession with intent to distribute is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison. Illegal possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
“The fentanyl powder alone seized from this group could have unleashed 1.7 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl into our community,” said David F. Reames, special agent in charge, DEA Seattle Field Division.
The King County Sheriff’s Office and the Tukwila Police Department assisted with the investigation.
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