Camano Island man gets 18 years for role in drug ring

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 17, 2018

SEATTLE — A Camano Island man was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison Tuesday for his role in a multi-state drug ring.

Baltazar Reyes-Garcia, 45, was convicted in October after a two-week trial in U.S. District Court in Seattle. He was accused of helping lead a drug distribution network in Snohomish, King, Skagit and Whatcom counties.

The organization had “broad connections” to Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, California and British Columbia, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a press release.

He was arrested in November 2016 as a cadre of federal, state and local law officers served search warrants at more than two dozen locations. The raids and other aspects of the investigation turned up two kilos of cocaine, eight kilos of methamphetamine, nearly $300,000 and more than 20 firearms.

More than 15 co-defendants are serving time in connection with the case, officials said.

U.S. District Judge James Robart said the quantities of drugs involved were “immensely alarming” and that Reyes-Garcia was a “major drug supplier.”