Officers and investigators found guns, body armor plates, fentanyl and heroin at a home in Lynnwood on July 25. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)

Officers and investigators found guns, body armor plates, fentanyl and heroin at a home in Lynnwood on July 25. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)

Lynnwood couple face federal charges in fentanyl operation

They’re accused of possessing millions of dollars worth of drugs and dealing illegally in guns.

LYNNWOOD — A Lynnwood couple have been charged in federal court with possessing millions of dollars worth of fentanyl, as well as heroin and firearms.

Jose Casablanca, 38, and Jessie Cruz, 37, made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Monday.

Officers last month discovered about 1,900 grams of fentanyl worth an estimated $19 million when they arrested the couple as part of an undercover investigation that began in March, according to documents filed at the time in Snohomish County.

In a 17-page criminal complaint released Monday, investigators detailed some of the transactions that occurred in parking lots outside restaurants, stores and a tavern in and around the Lynnwood and Everett areas. The couple eventually was arrested at Arlington Municipal Airport in July.

The criminal complaint details how two detectives with the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force posed as drug and gun buyers to gather information about the pair’s drug trafficking. The undercover detectives allegedly made purchases of heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl pills from the couple. They also purchased a fully automatic firearm, described in court papers as the equivalent of an illegal machine gun, and other firearms from the pair.

The pair allegedly had Cruz transport the guns to a sale location because Casablanca had felony convictions for robbery, burglary and drug offenses and was prohibited from possessing firearms, according to the criminal complaint. The robbery and burglary convictions were from 2006; the drug case involving cocaine was from 2011.

As part of the undercover operation, investigators also reportedly found about 808 grams of heroin, 12 grams of methamphetamine, $14,000 in cash and equipment that suggested the couple had planned to package and sell the drugs.

Some of the drugs were found in a Maserati luxury car. The couple also allegedly used a BMW.

Much of their stash allegedly was found hidden in their bedroom, according to court papers.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, a potentially fatal dose of fentanyl is 2 milligrams, a task force officer noted in his report.

“The amount of fentanyl powder that (the couple) possessed at their residence has the capability to cause the death of about 700,000 citizens,” he wrote in the court papers initially filed in Snohomish County.

“(He) was in possession of about 1,900 grams of fentanyl powder in order to produce counterfeit pills,” the officer wrote. “The amount of fentanyl powder present at arrest could produce about 1.9 million counterfeit pills with a street value of at least $19 million.”

On the day they were arrested at the Arlington airport, they met with another undercover officer who was posing as someone who could get them access to a pill press to make fentanyl-tainted pills from their large stash of the potentially deadly drug. A court-authorized search warrant at the Lynnwood home resulted in the seizure of large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, multiple firearms and ammunition, as well as body armor, court papers said.

The case is being investigated by the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force, with assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Crisham.

Eric Stevick: stevick@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

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Jasmine Donahue talks about being a place for people leave messages when looking for family members, friends or loved ones on the street on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett extends deadline for homeless service facing closure

Hope ‘N Wellness must now comply with city zoning laws by April 30. The organization is “grateful,” its owner said, but still hopes for a permanent solution.

New Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce CEO CEO Wendy Poischbeg speaks at a kick off event on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Everett Rising’: Wednesday’s chamber luncheon to showcase a new era of growth.

The Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce is beginning its efforts… Continue reading

The Edmonds School District building on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds School District faces estimated $8.5 million deficit

The shortfall is lower than previous years, but the effects are “cumulative,” Superintendent Rebecca Miner said.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Hundreds rally against Trump on Presidents Day in Everett

People lined Broadway with signs and flags, similar to other protests across the country.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

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.