Drug raid: Four states, 29 arrests

More than 100 federal, state and local law enforcement agents coordinated arrest and search operations Thursday morning at 20 locations in Spokane, North Idaho, Nevada and California.

The agents arrested 29 people in an alleged significant drug-trafficking operation. The arrested parties will face charges, in U.S. District Court in Spokane, of conspiracy to distribute drugs such as PCP, methamphetamine, ecstasy and oxycodone.

"The individuals arrested are allegedly members of a multi-state, organized-crime enterprise that threatened the safety of numerous communities by distributing illegal drugs, engaging in acts of violence and other criminal activities," Spokane Police Chief Frank Straub said at a press conference in Spokane.

The arrests cap more than a year of investigation by the Spokane Violent Crime and Gang Enforcement Team and partner agencies.

According to a criminal indictment, Deandre Gaither, of Spokane Valley, Stafone Fuentes and Jason L. Jones, of Spokane, and Kory A.J. Hall, of Las Vegas, engaged in a criminal enterprise to distribute PCP and other illegal drugs. There are 39 total indictments.

"This operation targeted the alleged Deandre Gaither criminal enterprise," FBI acting Special Agent in-charge W. Jay Abbott told reporters. "We believe we have brought down an enterprise engaged in significant criminal activity, both in quantity of crime and magnitude."

He said agents believe their operation disrupted the entire enterprise, from the street level up to the command structure. Authorities declined to release any more information on Gaither.

Investigators in Spokane, Rathdrum, Las Vegas, San Diego and Long Beach searched locations believed to contain evidence of the criminal activity of the enterprise. The enforcement operation also included a Coeur d'Alene location.

Robert Y.L. Rushing, 38, of Spokane, was arrested in Coeur d'Alene, said FBI supervisory Special Agent Frank Harrill.

Investigators identified Ronald E. Gardner, 40, and Takiyah R. Gayle, 40, both of Rathdrum, as fugitives whom agents continue to seek in relation to the enterprise.

"They are likely now in southern California," Harrill said of Gardner and Gayle. "These enterprises know no geographic boundaries."

He declined to characterize how the Rathdrum and Coeur d'Alene locations were allegedly tied to the enterprise.

Neighbors of the home at 7618 Russell Court were awakened by barking dogs to find their street blocked by law enforcement vehicles - mostly unmarked - and gun-wielding agents swarming the home.

Leanne Crowley woke around 6 a.m. because her dog was barking and she heard someone yell, "It's OK. It's the neighbors."

She said the neighborhood is typically quiet and she hadn't noticed any suspicious activity leading to the raid.

Ann Clanton, who lives across the street from the home, said she had seen what looked like unmarked police vehicles with Washington license plates parked and watching the house for some time. She said about four law enforcement officers knocked on the door of the home, but nobody answered.

"The people who live there come and go at all hours," Clanton said.

She said it always struck her as odd that the home's windows were always cracked open, even when it was bitter cold outside.

Though members of Rathdrum police and the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office were on scene, both reported being there only as a "uniform presence" and had no part in the investigation.

Neighbors said two vehicles parked in the driveway were searched Thursday, but they didn't see any sign of their neighbors - or anyone being taken into custody. Law enforcement officers were going in and out of the house for about an hour before leaving the scene.

Along with the 29 arrests, Abbott said, agents seized overall more than $30,000 in proceeds from the alleged illegal activity.

"Violent crime and drug trafficking go hand in hand, but I'm not going to comment specifically on the violence associated with these individuals," Harrill said.