Bellingham, WA — Michael Slocumb, 46, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for his role in a large drug distribution ring operating in the Puget Sound region. Slocumb’s criminal activities spanned Washington and Arizona, involving the trafficking of methamphetamine, fentanyl-laced pills, and heroin, as well as firearms offenses.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, Slocumb was part of a broader conspiracy that moved drugs across state lines. Following a raid on a stash house in Shelton, Washington, in December 2022, law enforcement uncovered a massive drug operation. The raid led to the seizure of over 640,000 fentanyl-laced pills, a kilogram of fentanyl powder, 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, and more than $81,000 in cash.
Authorities also found 23 firearms, including several loaded weapons, in close proximity to the drug supply, highlighting the dangerous nature of the operation. Slocumb’s vehicle was found containing a 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine, an AR-15 rifle with a 115-round drum magazine, and a firearm silencer.
After the raid, Slocumb attempted to evade law enforcement by moving his operations to Arizona. He made multiple trips to the state to pick up and transport drugs to the Shelton stash house before relocating there in early 2023. In Arizona, law enforcement later seized 70 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition from properties linked to Slocumb’s conspiracy.
In March 2023, Slocumb was arrested at his Arizona residence as part of the investigation into the drug ring. Slocumb pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. His sentencing comes after his efforts to evade law enforcement and continue his drug operations in Arizona.
The investigation and successful takedown of the ring were credited to coordinated efforts by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and local authorities in both Washington and Arizona.
With his 14-year prison sentence, Slocumb is facing significant consequences for his role in the dangerous distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin, as well as his illegal possession of firearms. This case underscores the continued efforts by law enforcement to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and hold offenders accountable for their actions.
