SEATTLE — A member of the Lummi Nation is speaking out after federal agents shut down a suspected drug ring they partly blame for the drug crisis in the Indigenous community.
One of the people indicted is a well-known Seattle anti-gun advocate who was the director of a violence prevention group connected to the Boys & Girls Club of King County.
“I hope they get all the fentanyl off the streets and off the reservation so we can stop burying our people,” said Joe Morris of the Lummi Nation.
It’s been one year since Morris had to bury his brother Lindy after a fentanyl overdose. Lindy was one of four people to die of an overdose in four consecutive days in 2023, causing the Lummi Nation to declare a State of Emergency.
In the federal indictment made public Thursday, Oct. 3, the Department of Justice said a major pipeline of drugs to the reservation came from a fentanyl ring they brought down this month.
“I do feel some relief," said Morris. "There’s just been so much death out there from fentanyl. It’s like, when is it ever going to stop? And when are people going to be held accountable?"
Federal records describe the drug ring as a "massive conspiracy;" a well-oiled operation spanning five states that was a "major regional supplier of fentanyl" into Washington state.
In recent months, federal agents seized multiple firearms from the suspects. They also found evidence of high-flying lifestyles, such as expensive watches, diamonds and gold chains. But, according to court documents, the biggest hauls were drugs - much of it disguised for transport in crude containers such as protein powder cartons and hollowed-out tires.
This is a partial list of confiscated drugs:
- 825,000 fentanyl pills
- 14.5 pounds of fentanyl powder
- 17 pounds of cocaine
- 7 pounds of meth
“This callous drug trafficking organization stands accused of distributing quantities of fentanyl great enough to potentially kill a million people," said David Reames with the Drug Enforcement Administration. "That’s filling up Lumen Field 15 times.”
Federal Investigators say two brothers run the organization — Marquis and Markel Jackson. But it’s their mother's alleged involvement, well-known Seattle activist Matelita "Marty" Jackson, that is surprising the region’s advocacy community.
Matelita Jackson has been prominently featured on KING 5 several times. Up until her indictment, she ran the Southeast Network SafetyNet - a program with the Boys & Girls Club that focused on reducing gun violence for teens.
The Boys & Girls Club confirmed to KING 5 she no longer works for them. They declined to comment further.
According to federal documents, Matelita Jackson helped the drug organization “launder their money ... using her account as 'pass through.'”
Now, the City of Seattle is working with the Boys & Girls Club to figure out if their funds were inappropriately used.
"I guess I’m amazed that they’re finally starting to hold people accountable for their actions,” Joe Morris of the Lummi Nation said.
Morris said this year without his brother has been devastating. But he is moving forward and just adopted Lindy’s son, Bryson.
“I took him in to hopefully give him a better life and that’s what I’m hoping I’ll be able to do,” he said.
He believes this indictment is the beginning of recovery for the Lummi Nation.
“It gives some people hope, especially on the reservation because it’s being brought in. It’s not us doing it, it’s other people that bring it here,” Morris said.
The two-year investigation has resulted in 14 indictments and criminal complaints, according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington Tessa Gorman. Three of those indicted are fugitives, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Four people were arrested on criminal complaints for fentanyl distribution within the boundaries of the Lummi Nation. Three of the four were tribal members, and all were charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
KING 5's Kipp Robertson contributed to this story.