Washington Man Arrested with Fentanyl Enough to Kill 278,000, Previously Granted Clemency

A Washington man, Percy Levy, 54, has been arrested on nearly a dozen drug and weapons charges, marking a shocking turn of events for someone previously granted clemency by former Governor Jay Inslee in 2019.

Levy's arrest on Thursday followed a 16-month investigation by the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force. He was apprehended during a traffic stop in Everett, Washington, and a subsequent search of his home revealed a staggering cache of drugs and weapons. Authorities recovered 2,818 grams of powder cocaine, 14.7 grams of rock cocaine, and 556 grams of fentanyl—an amount the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency estimates could kill approximately 278,000 people. To put that into perspective, just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal.

Alongside the drugs, detectives found packaging materials, a digital scale, and a handgun, suggesting an operation well beyond casual possession. Levy now faces 11 Class B felony charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. He is being held on a hefty $1.5 million bond.

Levy’s criminal history is extensive, first brushing against the law at age 13. After a 2002 arrest for a drug house robbery, he spent 17 years in prison. Despite this past, Inslee granted him clemency in 2019, a decision influenced by the State v. Blake ruling, which reclassified possession of controlled substances as a misdemeanor. In the years following his clemency, Levy appeared to turn his life around, becoming a community outreach specialist for the Washington Defender Association, founding Redemption Auto—a car dealership—and serving as treasurer for the Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County chapter.

While his advocacy for criminal justice reform had earned him respect in the community, this recent arrest has cast an ominous shadow over his efforts. The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office stated the investigation into Levy's activities remains ongoing.

Levy's fall from grace raises tough questions about clemency decisions and their long-term implications. Was this a case of redemption gone sour, or did his past catch up to him? Either way, the sheer scale of the alleged crime paints a devastating picture.