TACOMA, Wash. – Ronnie Griffin, a 66-year-old man from Tacoma, was sentenced today to 75 months in prison for his leadership role in a significant drug distribution ring linked to the Aryan Family white supremacist prison gang.
Griffin, the stepfather of Jesse James Bailey, the leader of the drug trafficking operation, was instrumental in the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Bailey, who pleaded guilty last month, is set to be sentenced on February 28, 2025.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Griffin acted as a redistributor and confidant for Bailey. Over a two-year investigation, law enforcement seized significant quantities of drugs and firearms, including 223 pounds of methamphetamine, 830,000 fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, cocaine, heroin, and $338,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
During the March 2023 coordinated arrests of DTO members, authorities found 22 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 pounds of fentanyl, six pounds of heroin, and 177 firearms. Notably, two firearms were discovered hidden in a toilet at Griffin’s residence.
Despite the seizures and his extensive criminal history, Griffin’s sentencing falls short of the 10-year term initially requested by prosecutors, who cited his recurring involvement in illegal activities and multiple stints in prison. Griffin pleaded guilty on August 1, 2024, and has been held at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since his arrest in March 2023.