A pair of long-term investigations in the Western District of Washington wrapped up in October 2025 with multiple arrests and significant seizures of narcotics and firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.
Jose Isabel Sandoval Zuniga, 30, of Sammamish, Washington, who served as a primary source of firearms for one of the groups, is being arraigned on gun and drug charges returned by the grand jury earlier this month.
These successful law enforcement investigations will no doubt save lives – lives that could be lost to fentanyl overdoses or gun violence,” said U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Law enforcement carefully worked its way up the drug distribution chain to find those responsible.
In one case, they found multiple family members leading the distribution ring, in the other they found drug and gun distribution intertwined with illegal cockfighting and an improvised explosive.
Both of these groups showed a callous disregard for our communities, sometimes even bringing their young children along, as they peddled poison and dangerous firearms,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division.
The first takedown occurred on October 16, 2025, following a ten-month investigation. In December 2024, one of the leaders of the drug distribution ring, Carlos Gutama Escandon, 30, of Renton was stopped by Tulalip Tribal Police in Marysville and had fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder and cash in his car.
In all, eight people have been charged in the case:
- Oliver Gutama Escandon, 21, Renton, Washington
- Josselin Gutama Escandon, 23, Renton, Washington
- Henry Gutama Escandon, 34, Renton, Washington
- Carlos Gutama Escandon, 30, Renton, Washington
- Jessica Gutama Escandon, 32, Renton, Washington
- Andres Giraldo Arias, 34, Renton, Washington
- Stalyn Quezada Gutama, 23, Renton, Washington
- Artur Shahnazaryan, 38, Redmond, Washington
Jose Isabel Sandoval Zuniga, 30, of Sammamish, Washington, is being arraigned on gun and drug charges returned by the grand jury earlier this month.
These charges include:
Gun and drug charges
City and state: Sammamish, Washington
Exact date: October 16, 2025
Sentence or outcome: Currently arraigned
Dollar amounts: None
This investigation demonstrates what we can accomplish through strong partnerships among local, state, and federal agencies,” said Snohomish County Sheriff Susanna Johnson.
The second takedown occurred October 28, 2025, with ten arrests. The arrests were the culmination of a year-long investigation by area law enforcement officers.
In the arrest operation on October 28, law enforcement seized approximately 105,000 fentanyl pills, 34 kilos of fentanyl powder, 3.7 kilos of methamphetamine, nearly a kilogram of heroin and 8.7 kilos of cocaine. Law enforcement also seized over $140,000 in cash.
Two men, Jose Isabel Sandoval Zuniga, and Edgar Rivas Robles, 33 of Centralia, Washington are tied to a rural property in Lewis County where law enforcement unearthed an improvised explosive device and an illegal cockfighting operation.
This is a developing story, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Related Federal Cases
- Ramon Otero Jr., Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime, Arizona 2021 · Washington
- Juan Hernandez Sentenced to 10 Years for Major Drug Trafficking and… · Utah
- James Edward Sweat, Operating Significant Drug Trafficking Ring, Virginia 2023 · Virginia
- Michael Stuckey, Firearms Trafficking and Drug Distribution, DC, 2023 · District of Columbia
- Maurice Tutt, Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking, Washington 2026 · District of Columbia
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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