Four indicted in gun, drug trafficking case

MARYSVILLE — An undercover investigation into gun and drug trafficking in Snohomish County has ended in the indictment of four felons from Marysville, including a man who once ran a chop shop and meth lab in Arlington.

The group is accused of selling dozens of firearms to an undercover cop between October and January. The majority of the sales reportedly happened in the parking lot of the Tulalip Resort Casino. Guns also were sold from other parking lots outside businesses around Marysville and Arlington.

The defendants were arrested Wednesday morning. They were expected to make their first appearance a few hours later in federal court in Seattle. The indicted are Heather Chancey, Mark Jenkins, James Michaels and Curtis Van Putten.

All four are convicted felons and prohibited from possessing guns, according to prosecutors.

The trafficking ring was investigated by the Snohomish Regional Gang and Drug Task Force, Seattle police and the FBI.

“Our communities are safer when you take illegal weapons and drugs off the street,” task force Cmdr. Pat Slack said.

The defendants face years behind bars if they are convicted.

Chancey, 34, is named as the primary suspect. She is charged with 14 counts of gun and drug crimes. She allegedly trafficked dozens of weapons, including shotguns, rifles and handguns. The serial numbers on some of the guns had been scratched off, prosecutors said.

The Marysville woman, who also goes by Heather Slater, has theft convictions from 2008 after being caught in a check-kiting scheme. She later blamed her crimes on a drug addiction, according to court papers. She had a previous felony conviction for meth possession.

Chancey also was indicted on distribution of meth and using a firearm to further drug trafficking.

The three men were indicted for illegal gun possession.

In 2004, Van Putten was sentenced to eight years in prison after a lengthy investigation into a chop shop in Arlington. Police discovered 57 stolen vehicles on the property. Van Putten also was accused of dealing meth. He was released from prison in 2008. Van Putten, 43, has been a participant in the county’s drug court for a few months.

He opted into the drug court after being charged in 2011 with numerous felonies, including trafficking in stolen property, identity theft and meth possession. The charges stemmed from allegations that Van Putten sold a stolen tractor and kept stolen vehicles on his property. At the time of his arrest, he reportedly was carrying two baggies of meth.

Van Putten attended his weekly drug court hearing June 28. He was ordered to bring proof that he’d been attending mandatory 12-step meetings at the next hearing, scheduled for Friday.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.