A 46-year-old Spanaway man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his leadership role in a drug distribution ring selling fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Puget Sound region, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.
Sean Michael Moinette has been in custody since March 2023, in connection with the arrest of over two dozen conspirators, including some with ties to an Aryan prison gangs.
At the sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, ‘the impact [of drug trafficking] on our community is almost immeasurable.’
This defendant was deeply involved in distributing drugs, arranging couriers, and seeking various sources of supply. But when confronted with the information that his fentanyl was too strong and causing overdoses, he did not skip a beat and continued to scheme about moving his poison in our community,’ said U.S. Attorney Gorman.
According to records filed in the case, Moinette was identified as a mid-level manager of a drug distribution cell tied to the Aryan Family and Omerta prison gangs. A wiretap investigation in summer of 2022 revealed that Moinette was buying large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, and fentanyl-laced pills multiple times per week.
Moinette continued to distribute large quantities of fentanyl powder even after discussions with his supplier that their customers were ‘dropping like flies.’
When a drug redistributor was stopped and her car impounded, Moinette was heard on the wire scheming to break into the police impound yard to try to get the drugs out of the vehicle. The break-in did not occur.
Law enforcement arrested members of the drug distribution conspiracy on March 22, 2023, in a coordinated takedown involving ten swat teams and more than 350 law enforcement officers. On that day alone officers seized 177 firearms, more than ten kilos of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona.
Moinette is the eighth member of the drug conspiracy to be sentenced. Some defendants have received prison sentences of as much at 13 years in prison. Less culpable defendants have been sentenced to 14-50 months in prison.
Drug ringleader Jesse James Bailey pleaded guilty last November and is scheduled for sentencing on February 28, 2025.
Related Federal Cases
- Wesner, Financial Manipulation, Florida 2023 · Maryland
- Veronica Dittman, Fentanyl Distribution, Arizona 2023 · Arizona
- Dylan Wilson, Fentanyl Distribution, Oregon 2023 · Arizona
- Leon Henderson, Fentanyl Distribution, South Carolina 2023 · Arkansas
- Patricia Ann Quinn, Methamphetamine Distribution, North Ridgeville … · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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