
Matelita “Marty” Jackson, a prominent school safety activist in Seattle, has been arrested for her role in a fentanyl distribution ring that spanned multiple states. Jackson, who oversaw millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded youth programs, now faces federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges alongside 16 others.
Authorities allege that Jackson’s family was central to the operation, with her sons acting as the ringleaders and Jackson herself managing the financial side of the criminal enterprise. The U.S. Attorney’s Office claims the group distributed 800,000 fentanyl pills, contributing to at least four overdose deaths.
Jackson’s nonprofit, SE Network SafetyNet, received significant funding for school violence intervention programs. Following her arrest, the program has been suspended, and her profile has been scrubbed from related websites. The Boys and Girls Clubs of King County, with which her program was affiliated, has not commented on next steps.
The investigation also resulted in the seizure of drugs, firearms, and cash, with U.S. attorney Tessa Gorman emphasizing the dangerous impact of the fentanyl crisis. Prosecutors say Jackson’s arrest reveals the widespread criminal activity hiding behind her activist role.