Matelita “Marty” Jackson, a well-known Seattle school safety advocate, has been arrested for allegedly running a large-scale fentanyl distribution network while managing a taxpayer-funded youth nonprofit. Jackson, along with her family, faces multiple charges of drug trafficking and money laundering, according to federal authorities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that Jackson’s operation was responsible for distributing 800,000 fentanyl pills across several states, resulting in at least four overdose deaths. Her sons reportedly led the operation while she handled the financial side, including laundering the profits.
Jackson’s SE Network SafetyNet Program, which was designed to address school violence, received over $1 million in public funding. After her arrest, the program was suspended, and her profile was removed from its websites. The mayor of Seattle has not provided details on what steps the city will take in light of these developments.
The investigation uncovered a connection between the Jackson family and a local street gang, and authorities seized cocaine, firearms, and large sums of cash during the probe. This case has raised concerns about how taxpayer funds were being managed by Jackson’s organization.
