(Tacoma,WA) A 46-year-old Spanaway, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 12 years in prison for his leadership role in a drug distribution ring selling fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Puget Sound region, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Sean Michael Moinette has been in custody since March 2023, in connection with the arrest of over two dozen conspirators, including some with ties to an Aryan prison gangs. At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, “the impact [of drug trafficking] on our community is almost immeasurable.”
“This defendant was deeply involved in distributing drugs, arranging couriers, and seeking various sources of supply. But when confronted with the information that his fentanyl was too strong and causing overdoses, he did not skip a beat and continued to scheme about moving his poison in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman.
According to records filed in the case, Moinette was identified as a mid-level manager of a drug distribution cell tied to the Aryan Family and Omerta prison gangs. A wiretap investigation in summer of 2022 revealed that Moinette was buying large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, and fentanyl-laced pills multiple times per week. Moinette continued to distribute large quantities of fentanyl powder even after discussions with his supplier that their customers were “dropping like flies.”…