A 29-year-old King County man, Braiden F. Wilson, has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a machinegun, and unlawful possession of destructive devices, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.
According to the investigation, Wilson and his partner, 30-year-old Chandler B. Bennett, were arrested following a May 12, 2024, shooting in rural King County. At today’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Lauren King said, the crimes ‘were egregious… You distributed a large amount of drugs that cause a danger to our community.’
Wilson used the dark web to advertise his potentially deadly wares, shipping fentanyl pills across the country. He further placed the lives of the community in danger by stockpiling a cache of weapons and explosives, which he stored adjacent to a state park frequented by the public.
When law enforcement entered the RV, they found a large cache of weapons as well as fentanyl powder, tablets containing fentanyl, and sundry items associated with the manufacture of tablets, including a manual pill press. Law enforcement located more than two and a half kilograms of fentanyl-laced pills. They also seized 16 firearms, body armor, silencers, and ballistic shields.
Agents and officers also searched two storage units associated with Wilson and found two additional pill presses, more controlled substances, and mailing supplies. In all law enforcement seized more than two kilos of fentanyl-laced pills, nearly a kilo of fentanyl powder, and more than three kilos of methamphetamine. Computer and bank records reveal that Wilson distributed controlled substances via his dark web identity more than 2,000 times and he took in more than $287,000 in crypto currency.
Wilson pleaded guilty in October 2024. Asking for an eight-year prison sentence, prosecutors wrote to the court, ‘Wilson engaged in a comprehensive enterprise to distribute fentanyl-laced pills throughout the country by offering his products for sale on dark web marketplaces… He maintained a veritable armory while engaged in his drug distribution business.’
‘This is another example of great work by our patrol deputies, as they went above and beyond on a call that resulted in taking two dangerous criminals off the street,’ said King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall.
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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