A Renton, Washington resident, Shawn Ellis, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation linked to Aryan prison gangs. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller following Ellis's arrest in March 2023 after a two-year investigation.
During the sentencing hearing at the U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Chief Judge David G. Estudillo highlighted the seriousness of the case: “We’re talking about a significant amount of controlled substances,” and emphasized community concerns regarding firearms found with Ellis: “What is really significant and obviously scary for the community is the firearms.”
Ellis was identified as a key redistributor within the drug network, acquiring drugs from one faction and selling them for profit. At his arrest, agents discovered fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, cocaine, fake Xanax pills, and four guns in his car. The firearms included a loaded pistol near the driver’s seat and an SK-15 rifle concealed in a violin case.
Additional items were seized from a storage shed under Ellis's control. These included five more firearms, ammunition, body armor, and a homemade silencer along with cash and valuables believed to be proceeds from drug trafficking activities.
Prosecutors sought a 15-year sentence due to Ellis's history of felony drug convictions which prohibited him from possessing any firearms: “But the danger Ellis posed to the community does not stop (with his possession of a silencer). He carried guns in his car along with his drugs,” they noted.
The arrest was part of an extensive operation on March 22, 2023, involving over 350 law enforcement officers across multiple locations in Washington and Arizona. This operation resulted in numerous arrests and seizures including 177 firearms and large quantities of illegal drugs.
The leader of this drug trafficking ring, Jesse Bailey, faces sentencing on June 13, 2025. His wife Candace Bailey will be sentenced on May 16, 2025.
This case falls under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal networks through collaboration among various law enforcement agencies.
The FBI led this investigation with support from agencies such as DEA and HSI among others including local police departments like Tacoma Police Department and Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner, and Jehiel Baer are prosecuting this case.