THREE MEN SENTENCED TO LONG PRISON TERMS FOR OPEN AIR DRUG MARKET IN CENTRAL SEATTLE
Father, Son and Associate Dealt Crack Cocaine From the Front Yard of Central Area Home
PARIS WINSTON STEWART, aka “Pootie,” 48 of Tacoma, Washington, PARIS TERRELL STEWART, aka “Little Pootie,” 21, of Seattle, Washington, and TYRONE MONTIS JONES, 38, of Seattle, Washington were all sentenced yesterday to lengthy prison terms for dealing crack cocaine. The men were arrested May 23, 2007, following a lengthy undercover investigation by the Seattle Police Department and the ATF Violent Gang Task Force. Chief U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik sentenced PARIS WINSTON STEWART to 84 months in prison, PARIS TERRELL STEWART to 78 months in prison and TYRONE MONTIS JONES to 81 months in prison.
According to records filed in the case, the undercover investigation began in September 2006, using video surveillance and confidential informants. Over nine months, investigators used a pole camera near the home on 26th Avenue in Seattle to videotape numerous open air drug transactions involving both STEWARTs and JONES. The men repeatedly sold drugs to confidential informants in front of the home of a disabled relative of the STEWARTs. The men pleaded guilty in late September 2007.
In asking for significant prison terms, Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi noted the significant criminal history of the defendants. PARIS WINSTON STEWART has six prior felony convictions, four of them drug related. PARIS TERRELL STEWART has eight prior juvenile and adult convictions, two of which were drug offenses. TYRONE MONTIS JONES has 44 prior arrests, which resulted in 27 convictions. As Lombardi noted in his sentencing memo, “Jones’ 1993 arrest and conviction for unlawful imprisonment and assault was an exceptionally violent and serious crime.”
Chief U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik imposed the longest sentence on PARIS WINSTON STEWART because of his role in involving his son in the drug trade.
The case was a joint investigation between the Seattle Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Violent Gang Task Force.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.
