Edmonds man gets 15 years for drugs

SEATTLE — An Edmonds man tied to a cocaine ring run by members of several criminal gangs was sentenced Friday to 15 years in federal prison.

Gary Kilcup, 40, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine in U.S. District Court in Seattle. He admitted to trafficking more than 40 pounds of cocaine in the last year.

He was arrested in his home in March and investigators found cocaine and packaging materials.

Kilcup’s sister Nicola Kilcup, 36, of Seattle and her husband Shawn Piper, 38, were sentenced to lengthy prison terms last week. They were accused of being at the center of the operation run primarily out of Piper’s Seattle auto detailing business.

Federal agents raided more than a dozen houses, apartments and cars in March, arresting 15 people connected to the drug trafficking ring. More than $40,000 in cash and a large amount of cocaine, marijuana and firearms were seized.

The year-long investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Violent Gang Task Force. Federal agents used wiretaps to monitor the group’s drug deals. They also recorded and videotaped several undercover cocaine sales.

Investigators said the drug traffickers crossed gang-allegiance and united in their efforts to make money.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Lombardi asked for the 15-year sentence Friday based in part on Kilcup’s history of drug dealing and violence.

Kilcup’s criminal history includes a 1989 manslaughter conviction and numerous drug and weapons convictions.

The Edmonds man Friday told the judge he wasn’t a threat.

“I’m about as dangerous as Santa Claus,” Kilcup said.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Robert Lasnik told Kilcup that if he commits another crime after he serves his 15-year sentence, Kilcup would be going to prison for the rest of his life.

“You don’t get the benefit of the doubt when you have abused the trust of the community repeatedly,” Lasnik said.

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