Tacoma, Wash. – Federal prosecutors announced that Yehoshua Kilp, the leader of a violent drug distribution network tied to Aryan prison gangs, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. The sentencing, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo, caps a two-year investigation that dismantled a major narcotics operation connected to the Aryan Family and Omerta gangs.
“Mind-Boggling” Quantities of Drugs
During the sentencing, Judge Estudillo underscored the devastating scale of Kilp’s drug empire. The operation trafficked massive quantities of controlled substances, including potent batches of fentanyl linked to overdoses in Washington State.
“This case involved mind-boggling amounts of dangerous drugs,” Estudillo said, noting Kilp’s refusal to halt distribution even after learning the fentanyl pills were killing users. Instead, evidence showed, Kilp discussed strategies to dilute the drugs and improve smuggling methods to evade detection.
A Criminal Career from Childhood
Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller said Kilp’s record of crime stretched back to age 14, reflecting a lifelong pattern of violence and drug dealing. Even while serving time in state prison, Kilp continued orchestrating drug sales, using intermediaries to maintain control of the network.
“Kilp’s conduct demonstrates a total disregard for human life,” Miller said. “Rather than stopping, he doubled down—making poison more potent, and more deadly.”
Massive Coordinated Takedown
The breakthrough in the case came on March 22, 2023, when 350 law enforcement officers across ten SWAT teams executed a coordinated raid. The operation led to two dozen arrests and the seizure of a staggering arsenal:
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177 firearms, including assault rifles and handguns
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Vast quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin
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More than $330,000 in cash
Earlier phases of the investigation had already intercepted significant drug shipments, cash, and 48 additional firearms, underscoring the gang’s extensive reach and firepower.
Links to Mexico and Money Laundering
Prosecutors also revealed that Kilp engaged in money laundering operations tied to cartel connections in Mexico, allowing him to funnel drug profits across borders. These financial crimes added to the severity of the charges and played a role in the length of his prison sentence.
Alongside his 14-year sentence, Kilp was ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Co-Defendant Also Sentenced
Kilp’s co-defendant, Sara Thompson, was sentenced in January 2025 to seven years in prison for her role in managing the operation while Kilp was incarcerated. Prosecutors described Thompson as a trusted associate who executed Kilp’s orders and helped keep the network active during his imprisonment.
Multi-Agency Investigation
The sweeping investigation was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative, which targets high-level narcotics trafficking networks. The effort was led by the FBI, with key contributions from:
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DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration)
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Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
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Washington State Department of Corrections
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Local agencies, including the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, Washington State Patrol, and Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Division
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner, and Jehiel Baer.
A Major Blow to Organized Crime
Officials say Kilp’s sentencing represents a significant victory against violent prison-based gangs operating in the Pacific Northwest. The Aryan Family and Omerta gangs, long associated with narcotics and weapons trafficking, have been severely weakened by the takedown.
“This investigation demonstrates what happens when federal, state, and local agencies work together to dismantle dangerous criminal enterprises,” said Miller. “Our communities are safer today because of this effort.”
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