Seattle community activist makes 17 arrests in multistate drug ring

SEATTLE- Seventeen people, including a Seattle community activist, were arrested Wednesday in connection with a multistate drug trafficking ring.

Matelita, or Marty Jackson, was executive director of SE Network SafetyNet, a community group that is part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County.

Jackson was indicted in U.S. District Court in Seattle for allegedly laundering the money her family made in the multinational fentanyl drug trafficking organization.

RELATED: Five King County family members charged with drug trafficking conspiracy in multiple states

A statement from the Boys & Girls Club of King County confirmed that Jackson worked for the organization and was taking “corrective action.”

“The safety and security of the young people we serve and our dedicated staff are always our top priority and we take any situation that may impact their well-being very seriously. Boys & Girls Clubs of King County has learned of the arrest of Marty Jackson,” the statement said.

Based on this information, our organization has taken corrective action. We will cooperate fully with authorities and have also launched an internal investigation to ensure the ongoing safety of club members and staff.

Jackson is a well-known violence prevention advocate who was instrumental in the aftermath of a shooting in the parking lot of the Rainier Valley Safeway store in Seattle.

“The healing has continued because you just don’t forget something like that,” Jackson said in July.

SEE ALSO: One year later: No suspect in Safeway mass shooting identified or arrested

A year after the mass shooting, Jackson was among the people who expressed dismay that no suspect was ever identified or arrested. After the shooting, she told KOMO News that she seriously considered canceling future outreach events in the Safeway parking lot, but she said her staff refused to let the shooting ruin their mission.

According to federal court records, Jackson, 49, was arraigned Wednesday and pleaded not guilty.

Seventeen people were arrested Wednesday in connection with the case, according to a statement released by Gorman's office. Several of the people arrested were in western Washington.

The two-year investigation looked into the drug trafficking ring that resulted in the distribution of over 800,000 fentanyl pills across the country. Authorities said the Lummi Nation reservation in Whatcom County was targeted for distribution.

Authorities believe the organization purchased the fentanyl pills in bulk from a supplier in Arizona.

Ten of the 13 people arrested in Washington are being held at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac. Five of the people arrested are members of the same family.