A man from Des Moines, Washington, has been indicted federally on multiple charges related to drug trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced that Dennis Aguilar Huisa, 37, faces four counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and one count of money laundering. Huisa was detained twice last fall for possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and a firearm. He has been in state custody since his last arrest on November 1, 2024.
The sequence of events began on August 15, 2023, when Puyallup Police stopped Huisa on the road. Officers discovered approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills and suspected fentanyl powder in an impounded vehicle. A scale with drug residue was also found.
On September 7, 2024, officers responded to an emergency involving a nine-month-old who had stopped breathing. Huisa and a woman had already administered two doses of Narcan. A search of a box truck revealed about 115 blue fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, and over $16,000 in cash. The child was taken to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and tested positive for fentanyl, amphetamine, and oxycodone. The child survived and was released to Child Protective Services.
On November 1, 2024, Auburn Police's Special Investigations Unit conducted a search of Huisa's hotel room, discovering packages of fentanyl powder, methamphetamine, and cocaine. A subsequent search of Huisa's box truck uncovered two kilograms of fentanyl powder and a Polymer 80 "ghost gun."
Huisa was initially charged on March 12, 2025, and brought into federal custody. A grand jury indicted him on March 26, 2025, on multiple charges. His initial court appearance was scheduled for later today.
The penalties for the charges include a mandatory minimum of ten years to life in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute, and a mandatory minimum of five years to life for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Money laundering carries up to twenty years in prison.
All charges are currently allegations, as Huisa is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation involves the Puyallup Police Department, the Auburn Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Casey Conzatti is prosecuting the case.