Feds dismantle drug trafficking ring linked to overdose deaths in Lummi Nation

Seventeen people were arrested across the country Wednesday on charges in a federal drug trafficking ring allegedly linked to a series of fatal overdoses on Lummi Nation last September.

The drug ring, known as the Jackson Drug Trafficking Organization, was led by Marquis Jackson, 31, and defendants Mandel Jackson, 50, and Matelita (Marty) Jackson, 49. Marty Jackson is a well-known anti-violence activist in the Seattle area and executive director of SE Network SafetyNet, a program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County.

According to an indictment, the group has ties to the Seattle street gang 44 Holy, a subgroup of the 30,000+ Crips gang.

Investigators seized 846,000 fentanyl pills, nearly 7 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 7 kilograms of cocaine, 29 firearms and more than $116,000 cash.

The arrests took place in Washington, Georgia, Missouri, Texas and Arizona. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington, a two-year investigation revealed that the human trafficking ring supplied fentanyl to traffickers in the Lummi Nation, which was overwhelmed by grief last fall when four tribal citizens died of overdoses within four days.

The indictments paint a picture of the Lummi Nation's strict oversight of the drug trade. A defendant was seen by investigators in December 2023 during a suspected drug deal driving a vehicle registered to a Lummi tribal member who was among the overdose victims. Tribal and federal law enforcement partners examined the cell phone of one of the overdose victims and found ties to the Jackson Drug Trafficking Organization.

Those arrested in connection with the Lummi Nation overdoses include Robert Bellair, 41, of Ferndale, Washington; Thomas J. Morris, 42, of Bellingham, Wash.; Patrick James, 40, Bellingham, Wash.; and Ronald Finkbonner, 50, Bellingham, Washington.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, DEA, Lummi Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Seattle Police Department, King County Sheriff's Office, Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and others investigates United States Border Patrol Blaine Sector Targeting and Intelligence Division.

This is a developing story.

About the Author: “Elyse Wild is a senior editor for Native News Online and Tribal Business News.”

Contact: [email protected]