Bellevue Drug Dealer Linked To Fentanyl Overdoses Sentenced

BELLEVUE, WA — A Bellevue drug dealer linked to fentanyl overdoses that killed at least one person in King County last year was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison this week, according to federal prosecutors.

Kevin Ta, 31, came to the attention of Bellevue police in spring 2018, apparently because he was bragging so much about how good he was at selling drugs. Bellevue police launched an investigation into Ta, but he fled to Des Moines, where he continued dealing drugs.

In May 2018, two Burien brothers bought fentanyl from Ta and later overdosed, according to prosecutors. One of the brothers died, the other was seriously injured after ingesting the powerful opioid. After the overdoses, Bellevue police and the King County Sheriff's Office worked together to arrest Ta.

About one month later, police raided Ta's home, finding fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and heroin. He also had nine handguns, which he couldn't legally own due to a prior bank robbery conviction.

"This defendant continued to deal his poison even after being sent a photo of one of his customers in a hospital bed on life support," U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran said in a statement. "This sentence protects the community from someone who illegally stockpiled firearms, was blinded by greed, and showed callous disregard for those whose addiction increased his profits."

After his 12 years in federal prison, Ta will serve five years of supervised release, according to federal prosecutors.