SEATTLE – Hardeep Singh, 23, formerly of Kent, Washington, will spend the next seven years behind bars after being sentenced today in U.S. District Court for his role in a large-scale ecstasy trafficking operation. Singh was convicted in absentia in 2009, and then vanished after the first day of his trial. He was apprehended a year ago in Canada, finally facing justice for a conspiracy that flooded the streets with dangerous drugs.
The case, pursued by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Werner, revealed a brazen scheme to distribute massive quantities of ecstasy and the related drug BZP. Between May 1st and May 8th, 2009, Singh and his co-defendant, Kaushal Kainth, 25, formerly of Renton, Washington, attempted to buy distribution services with a payment to a third man. They didn’t realize that man was working with law enforcement.
According to trial testimony, Singh and Kainth agreed to pay for the delivery of the drugs to co-conspirators at the Southcenter Mall in Tukwila, Washington, and in San Jose, California. The pair offered approximately 285,000 pills – valued at over $2.8 million – to the undercover operative. All of the pills were seized by authorities, preventing the poison from reaching the public. Kainth, however, upped the ante on brazenness by fleeing during the final day of trial, vanishing during a lunch break.
U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones didn’t mince words at sentencing, stating the conspiracy was a “large scale operation involving large amounts of drugs that would have an impact on the lives of many in the community.” Singh, who had legal status in the United States at the time of the indictment, will likely be deported to his native India after completing his sentence. The seven-year term reflects the severity of the crime and the defendant’s attempt to evade justice.
The investigation was spearheaded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), highlighting the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks. While Singh is now behind bars, Kaushal Kainth remains a fugitive, wanted by law enforcement. Anyone with information regarding Kainth’s whereabouts is urged to contact the authorities immediately.
This case serves as a stark reminder that fleeing from justice will not shield criminals from accountability. The Grimy Times will continue to track Kainth’s status and report on any developments in this ongoing case. The streets of King County, and beyond, are a little safer with Singh off them – but the search for Kainth continues.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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