Major drug arrests, seizures in four Western Washington counties

Eleven pounds of heroin, a dozen weapons and $40,000 were seized as part of a drug trafficking roundup Wednesday that was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Nineteen people were arrested in the early-morning raids.

Twenty defendants have been indicted on charges of distributing heroin and methamphetamine.  Another man was indicted on a weapons charge.

Two suspect are still at large.

According to Russ Baer, assistant special agent in charge of the DEA’s Seattle field office, 32-year old Derrick Taylor-Nairn is at the center of the group of suspects.  “The case evolves around Taylor-Nairn,” Baer told KIRO 7 Wednesday.  “He is the common denominator that ties everyone together.”

Craig Allen Fellers Sr., of Seattle, was indicted for allegedly conspiring to obtain a firearm for Taylor-Nairn, who, as a convicted felon, is prohibited from owning a weapon.

All of the suspects arrested Wednesday are dangerous, according to Baer.  “We seized about 12 firearms. Some handguns, some long rifles” he said.

The investigation was launched last year when a Puyallup narcotics officer realized the scope of a local dealer's transactions went far beyond city limits.  Federal agents and other local law enforcement agencies were brought in to investigate.

Their focus eventually centered on Taylor-Nairn.

“We have identified him as a significant drug trafficker,” Baer said.  “He won’t be dealing drugs anymore.”

If convicted, Taylor-Nairn and four co-defendants who allegedly supplied the largest quantities of drugs -- Jessica Plascencia Hernandez of Renton, Jose Margarito Maldonado of Bonney Lake, Lebret Marquis Richardson of Fife, and Andrew Leie Young of Seattle -- face ten years to life in prison.

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