Couple who led drug trafficking conspiracy connected to Aryan prison gang plead guilty

Press Release

Prosecutors and attorneys for drug trafficking organization leader agree to recommend a 17½-year sentence; prosecutors will recommend no more than ten years for ringleader's wife

Seattle - Two leaders of a drug trafficking organization connected to the Aryan Family prison gang pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms related charges today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Jesse James Bailey, 40, and his wife, Candace Bailey, 42, are scheduled for sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo on February 28, 2025.

Jesse Bailey pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute in a quantity that triggers a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which adds a mandatory five-year term to his prison sentence. Bailey also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money. Prosecutors and the defense have agreed to recommend a sentence of 210 months in prison.

Candace Bailey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, illegally transferring a firearm to a prohibited person, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than ten years in prison for Candace Bailey. Chief Judge Estudillo is not bound by the recommendations and can impose any sentence allowed by law.

On Wednesday March 22, 2023, the FBI led a coordinated takedown of this criminal drug trafficking organization. They arrested two dozen people, including the Baileys. On that day law enforcement seized 177 firearms, more than ten kilograms of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona.

The Baileys are forfeiting $699,268 seized from them as proceeds of criminal activity as well as 42 firearms, silencers, body armor, ammunition, scopes, and tripods seized from various storage lockers and their residence. They are also forfeiting dozens of pieces of jewelry as proceeds of their criminal conduct.

In their plea agreements, the Baileys admitted to their drug trafficking conduct. The plea agreements describe how the couple discussed various suppliers of illegal narcotics and the pricing. They discussed drug buyers as well. Due to his criminal history, Jesse Bailey was prohibited from possessing firearms, and Candace Bailey admitted she transferred firearms to Jesse Bailey knowing he was a previously convicted felon. Finally, the Baileys admitted in their plea agreements how the couple sought to launder their drug proceeds through various casinos and bank accounts.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff's Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff's Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon and Max Shiner.

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Updated November 20, 2024