SEATTLE – A basement in Seattle’s upscale Magnolia neighborhood was ground zero for a dangerous operation involving heroin and a cache of firearms, according to federal prosecutors. Two men, JORGE CARLOS CAMPS, 34, and ROGER LEE HIDDLESTON, 44, both of Seattle, are now facing federal charges after allegedly peddling heroin and illegal weapons to an informant.
The bust went down last week, culminating in the seizure of a dozen weapons, including a fully automatic Mac-11 submachine gun and a silencer. CAMPS is charged with distributing heroin and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He has a prior felony conviction for violating a domestic violence court order, making firearm possession illegal for him. Authorities allege CAMPS wasn’t working alone. Text messages recovered by investigators show pictures of various weapons alongside a price list, suggesting a wider operation.
HIDDLESTON, identified as CAMPS’ heroin supplier, is facing even more serious charges: distribution of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was apprehended after leaving the Magnolia home where the alleged heroin and gun sale took place. A search of his vehicle turned up a significant haul: heroin, methamphetamine, drug distribution materials, $2,225 in cash, and a Sig Sauer Model P230 9mm Kurz semi-automatic pistol in the trunk. Like CAMPS, HIDDLESTON is also subject to a domestic violence protection order, barring him from possessing firearms.
The alleged sale to a person working with law enforcement occurred on April 28, 2014, according to the criminal complaint. The investigation was a joint effort by the Seattle Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). The feds are moving quickly, with both men currently held at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, awaiting further court proceedings.
If convicted, CAMPS faces up to 20 years in prison for heroin distribution and up to ten years for each firearm charge. HIDDLESTON is looking at potentially even longer sentences: up to 20 years for heroin distribution, up to 40 years – with a mandatory minimum of five years – for methamphetamine possession with intent to distribute, and up to ten years for the firearm charge.
Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg is prosecuting the case. It’s crucial to remember that these are merely allegations at this stage. Both men are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the unvarnished truth from the streets of Seattle.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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