Seattle youth activist is branded 'a wolf in sheep's clothing' after being linked to deadly fentanyl ring

A Seattle youth activist has been branded a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' by federal investigators who have linked her to a deadly fentanyl ring.

Matelita 'Marty' Jackson, 49, the executive director of the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of King County SE Network SafetyNet Program, made a name for herself as anti-violence activist following a shooting at a south Seattle grocery store last year.

She has since called for alternative pathways and opportunities to help steer children and young adults away from gang culture and gun violence, and is often one of the first responders to the shooting sites to help de-escalate tensions, according to the Seattle Times.

But on Wednesday, Jackson was arrested on federal charges of money laundering, with federal investigators claiming she was helping her husband and her children run a large-scale fentanyl ring that distributed over 800,000 pills in Arizona , Texas , Missouri , Montana , Georgia and Washington.

They are specifically accused of targeting a Native American community in Washington, where four people overdosed in just four days last year.

The Seattle Police Department, federal Drug Enforcement Agency and FBI spent two years investigating the September 2023 deaths of members of the Lummi Nation, KING 5 reports.

As part of the investigation, tribal and federal partners examined the phone of one of the overdose victims and reportedly found a connection to Markell Jackson, Marty's 21-year-old stepson, who prosecutors say was the main supplier to four known drug dealers on the Lummi reservation.

Prosecutors have also accused Marty's son, Marquis, 31, of being the leader of the fentanyl ring and court documents say her husband, Mandel, 50, was the advisor, according to the Seattle Times.

Federal agents detailed how they intercepted a phone call between Mandel and Marquis before and after a deal involving fentanyl pills, in which Marty could be heard in the background.

She is accused of laundering money through structured deposits by using her own account as a 'pass-through' between members of the drug trafficking organization.

Other family members face charges for conspiracy, including drug trafficking, with federal prosecutors saying they have alleged ties to a Seattle-area street gang.

They noted that a search of the Jackson family home uncovered 850,000 fentanyl pills, nearly seven kilograms of fentanyl power, seven kilograms of cocaine, 29 firearms and at least $116,000 in cash.

News of Marty's arrest on Wednesday shook city officials and residents.

The SE Network that she ran received funding from the Seattle Community Safety Initiative, a partnership with the city and community organizations to provide safety resources and disrupt violence.

The Boys' and Girls' Clubs of King County's annual contract with the city is for $1.185million through the safety initiative, a spokesperson for Mayor Bruce Harrell's Office told the Times, noting that the city's contracts have safeguards and reporting requirements to prevent financial malfeasance.

The mayor has since met with the Boys' and Girls' Club following Marty's arrest to discuss next steps, Fox 13 reports.

Seattle Public Schools have also said they halted any plans with the SE Network SafetyNet and are waiting for more information.

Meanwhile, the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of King County confirmed it took 'corrective action' after learning of Marty's arrest.

'The safety and protection of the young people we serve and our dedicated staff is always our absolute highest priority and we take any situation that might impact their well-being very seriously,' it told KOMO.

'Boys' and Girls' Clubs of King County has learned of the arrest of Marty Jackson. Upon learning this information, our organization has taken corrective action.

'We will cooperate fully with authorities and have also launched an internal investigation to ensure the ongoing safety of Club members and staff,' the organization ended.

Marty was arraigned on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

She has had no prior criminal history and is currently out on bond, as authorities continue to search for Markell.

Other members of the gang are now detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac.