Everett Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Role as Supplier of Highly Pure Methamphetamine

            A 27–year-old Everett man who supplied highly pure methamphetamine to a drug trafficking organization operating in Western Washington was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to seven years in prison and four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  JAIME ARAUJO supplied the highly pure methamphetamine to a number of different drug dealers operating in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish Counties.  ARAUJO was arrested in March 2014 following a lengthy wiretap investigation of heroin and methamphetamine trafficking.  In ARAUJO’s residence law enforcement recovered highly pure methamphetamine, more than $15,000 in cash and evidence of multiple wire transfers of money to Mexico.  At sentencing U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik said ARAUJO “had a serious part in a drug trafficking organization wreaking havoc in the community.”

According to records filed in the case, ARAUJO was identified in court authorized wire-taps as the supplier of highly pure methamphetamine to various drug dealers.  In recorded phone calls ARAUJO used coded phrases as he talked with others about drug deals and drug  smuggling.  In one instance he described bringing kilograms of methamphetamine north in a suitcase on a bus.  Evidence recovered at ARAUJO’s residence revealed he had been transferring drug money to Mexico, and planned to take drug cash to Mexico to purchase properties.  Even after his arrest and incarceration at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, ARAUJO made statements on recorded telephone calls that indicate he was still trying to control his drug operation.

This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved.  The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA, Bellingham Resident Office), the Whatcom County Drug and Gang Task Force, Skagit County Inter-local Drug Enforcement Unit, Snohomish Regional Drug and Gang Task Force, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) and Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Division.

            The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Masada and Karyn Johnson.