A member of the Lummi Nation speaks out after the collapse of a major drug ring

SEATTLE – A member of the Lummi Nation is speaking out after federal agents shut down a suspected drug ring they blame in part for the drug crisis in the indigenous community.

One of the defendants is a well-known Seattle anti-gun advocate who was the leader of a violence prevention group affiliated with the Boys & Girls Club of King County.

“I hope they get all the fentanyl off the streets and off the reservation so we can stop burying our people,” said Joe Morris of the Lummi Nation.

It's been a year since Morris had to bury his brother Lindy after a fentanyl overdose. Lindy was one of four people to die from an overdose on four consecutive days in 2023, leading to the Lummi Nation declaring a state of emergency.

In the federal indictment unsealed Thursday, Oct. 3, the Justice Department said a major drug pipeline to the reservation came from a fentanyl ring they busted this month.

“I feel some relief,” Morris said. “There have just been so many deaths from fentanyl.” The question is: When will it ever stop? And when will people be held accountable?”

Federal records describe the drug ring as a “massive conspiracy,” a well-oiled operation that spanned multiple states and was a “major regional supplier of fentanyl” to Washington state.

In recent months, federal agents have seized several firearms. They also found evidence of a high-flying lifestyle, such as expensive watches, diamonds and gold chains. However, according to court documents, the largest shipments involved drugs, much of which was disguised for transport in crude containers such as protein powder cartons and hollowed-out tires.

This is a partial list of the drugs seized:

• 825,000 fentanyl tablets
• 14.5 pounds of fentanyl powder
• 17 pounds of cocaine
• 7 pounds of meth

“This callous drug trafficking operation is accused of distributing quantities of fentanyl large enough to potentially kill a million people,” said David Reames of the Drug Enforcement Administration. “That fills Lumen Field 15 times.”

According to federal investigators, two brothers run the organization – Marquis and Markel Jackson. But it is the alleged involvement of her mother, prominent Seattle activist Matelita “Marty” Jackson, that is surprising the area’s advocacy group.

Matelita Jackson has been featured prominently on KING 5 several times. Until her indictment, she ran the Southeast Network SafetyNet. It is a Boys & Girls Club program focused on reducing gun violence among teens.

The Boys & Girls Club confirmed to KING 5 that she no longer works for them. They declined further comment.

According to federal documents, Matelita Jackson helped the drug organization “launder its money…by using her account as a 'conduit account.'”

Now the city of Seattle is partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubo Find out whether their funds have been used inappropriately.

“I guess I'm amazed that they're finally starting to hold people accountable for their actions,” said Joe Morris of the Lummi Nation.

Morris said this year without his brother has been devastating. But he keeps going and has just adopted Lindy's son Bryson.

“I took him in to hopefully give him a better life and I hope I can do that,” he said.

He believes this indictment marks the beginning of recovery for the Lummi Nation.

“It gives some people hope, especially on the reservation, because it's being introduced. It’s not us doing it, it’s other people bringing it here,” Morris said.

The two-year investigation has resulted in 14 indictments and criminal charges, according to Tessa Gorman, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington. According to the US Attorney's Office, three of the defendants are refugees.

Four people were arrested on criminal charges related to the distribution of fentanyl within the borders of the Lummi Nation. Three of the four were tribal members and all were charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.

KING 5's Kipp Robertson contributed to this story.