⏱ 2 min read
Daniel Hammond, a 44-year-old Puyallup resident, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role as a significant distributor of narcotics for a Drug Trafficking Organization tied to white prison gangs in Tacoma. Hammond was convicted in February 2026 of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The investigation, which began in March 2023, involved the FBI and DEA, and targeted members and associates of two predominantly white prison gangs: the Aryan Family and Omerta.
Hammond had the ability to order multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills, which he sold throughout the Tacoma area. Even after his arrest, Hammond attempted to continue his drug trafficking activities, reaching out to a supplier in Mexico while on pretrial release. The investigation resulted in the seizure of an estimated 223 pounds of methamphetamine, 830,000 fentanyl pills, and $338,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
The sentencing hearing was held in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, where Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo imposed the 11-year sentence. The judge stated that Hammond’s actions had wreaked havoc in the community and that he was not just an addict who committed a petty crime, but rather someone who had a lifestyle of engaging in this type of conduct.
The case is part of a larger effort to combat drug trafficking in Western Washington. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security Task Force. The seizure of drugs, money, and firearms has dealt a significant blow to the drug trafficking organization and its associates.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Organized Crime
- Defendant: Washington
- Location: WA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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