MAPLE VALLEY, WA – A brazen armed robbery of a Maple Valley marijuana dealer spiraled into a gun battle, landing repeat offender MELVIN CHARLES SLAUGHTER, 31, a 14-year federal prison sentence, U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced today. Slaughter, already under court supervision for a 2013 bank fraud conviction, allegedly orchestrated the robbery that left two of his accomplices riddled with bullets.
The August 13, 2014, incident unfolded when Slaughter and three others arrived at the Maple Valley home of a known marijuana distributor. One member of the crew believed they were simply making a purchase. Instead, Slaughter and another man stormed the house, relieving the dealer of both marijuana and several firearms, binding him with zip ties. As the robbers fled, the dealer managed to free himself, retrieving a hidden firearm from under his mattress and opening fire.
The ensuing chaos left one woman in the getaway car and co-defendant Ferdinand Clay wounded. Clay sustained gunshot wounds to the face, neck, and hip, but miraculously recovered. He has already pleaded guilty to robbery and brandishing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and faces a minimum seven-year sentence on June 6, 2014. The crew panicked, speeding away and tossing bloodied evidence – including the stolen firearms – onto the highway where they were recovered by police.
“A neighborhood became a shooting range because this defendant and his drug trafficker brought their violent business into its quiet streets,” Durkan stated. “This is the fourth case we have charged in less than a year that involved gunfire used in connection with a marijuana business. Guns and drugs do not mix. Those who put lives and community safety at risk will be held accountable.” U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik agreed, stating federal prosecution was “fully appropriate” in this case.
The investigation, a joint effort by the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), revealed a tangled web of criminal activity. Even the marijuana dealer, Jason Loken, isn’t escaping justice, having already pleaded guilty to drug and firearms charges and awaiting sentencing on May 27, 2014. Slaughter and the remaining female member of the robbery team ultimately turned themselves in to police.
Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi prosecuted the case, securing the lengthy sentence for Slaughter. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in the intersection of illegal drug activity and firearms, and the Grimy Times will continue to track federal prosecutions like this one. The streets of Maple Valley – and beyond – are a little safer with this crew behind bars, but the cycle of violence continues, fueled by greed and a disregard for human life.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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