A 21-year-old man from Lakewood, Washington has been sentenced to seven years in prison for leading a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine. Antonio Encinas was first linked to the organization when he was 17 years old and was stopped by law enforcement with his aunt while driving up from California with 14 pounds of methamphetamine.
According to records, Encinas' organization was indicted in March 2025 and he was the lead defendant. He arranged for pounds of drugs to be delivered by his brother or his aunt, and eight members of the organization were linked to around 20 pounds of methamphetamine deliveries.
The investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. At Friday's sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge David Estudillo stated that "the impact that controlled substances have in our communities are immeasurable" and noted that Encinas had been involved in this conduct for some time.
Encinas was also sentenced to four years of supervised release following his prison term. The case highlights the ongoing issue of drug trafficking and its devastating effects on local communities.
Background: The U.S. Attorney's Office reported that the organization distributed methamphetamine in the South Sound region, with Encinas acting as the leader and directing others to distribute the drugs on his behalf. This incident is part of a larger trend of rising methamphetamine use and distribution in western Washington.