EVERETT—Percy Levy, 54, who was granted executive clemency by Governor Jay Inslee in 2019 and dedicated the last 6 years to criminal justice reform, was arrested on 11 felony charges on Thursday, March 13, after a traffic stop in the 700 block of 75th Street Southeast in Everett.
His arrest comes after a 16-month long investigation by the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force (SRDTF).
Detectives working with that unit obtained a warrant for his residence, on the 600 block of 93rd Street Southeast in Everett, where they found 2,818 grams of powder cocaine, 14.7 grams of rock cocaine (or crack), and 556 grams of fentanyl, as well as a handgun, packaging material, and a digital scale signifying intent to distribute.
According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, just two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose for most people – depending on body size and tolerance – meaning the 556 grams Levy possess would be enough to kill 278,000 people, or roughly one third the population of Snohomish County according to the most recent Census data.
Levy is being charged with 11 Class B Felony charges, each with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines. These charges include: two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of stolen firearm, and eight separate counts of possession of controlled substances with attempt to sell.
Levy works as a Community Outreach Specialist for the Washington Defender Association (WDA) and is the founder of an automobile vendor in Everett called Redemption Auto.
Levy is considered a “symbol of personal redemption” on Redemption Auto’s website with the mission to “transform lives.”
“Percy’s personal journey of redemption is mirrored in the ethos of Redemption Auto. Each car represents resilience, second chances, and the transformative power of embarking on a new path,” Levy’s bio on Redemption Auto states.
Levy also sits on the Board of the Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County chapter as Treasurer.
Since the age of 13 Levy has been in and out of jails and prisons. He was arrested in 2002 for a drug house robbery and spent 17 years in prison before being granted executive clemency from former Washington State Governor Jay Inslee in 2019. Inslee’s decision came in the wake of the 2021 State v. Blake ruling, upending tens of thousands of drug felony cases when possession of controlled substances were reclassified as a misdemeanor.
While incarcerated Levy said he dedicated his service to the law library assisting inmates with post-trial litigation efforts. After his clemency he dedicated his life to reform the criminal legal system and became a staunch advocate against the “war on crime,” authoring several articles and a few urban books.
This remains an active investigation by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and a developing story. Please check back as more information becomes available.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
