A 37-year-old man arrested twice in 2023 by Puyallup police is now facing a series of federal charges tied to drug trafficking, illegal firearms possession, and money laundering.
Dennis Aguilar Huisa, who had been living in a Des Moines, Washington motel, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 26. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle, he faces four counts of possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute, one count of laundering drug proceeds, and one count of possessing a firearm in connection with drug trafficking.
Huisa entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment in U.S. District Court on Thursday.
Authorities say Huisa’s first encounter with Puyallup police occurred on August 15, 2023, when he was discovered pulled over along a roadway with approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills in his vehicle.
Less than a month later, on September 7, Huisa was again arrested following a troubling incident involving a 9-month-old baby who was found unresponsive. Hospital testing revealed the child had fentanyl, amphetamines, and oxycodone in their system. Thankfully, the child survived and was placed under the care of Child Protective Services, according to officials.
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Following Huisa’s arrest, law enforcement officers allegedly recovered fentanyl powder, over 100 fentanyl pills, and $16,000 in cash from his person and truck.
Further investigation led to a search warrant being executed at his motel room in Des Moines on November 1. Law enforcement agents reportedly seized packaged fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, two kilograms of fentanyl powder from his truck, and an unregistered firearm.
Huisa had remained in state custody until federal charges were filed on March 12. After the indictment was returned, he was transferred into federal custody on Thursday.
According to federal prosecutors, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. Drug distribution charges could result in a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, while money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years behind bars.
Peter Camiel, Huisa’s court-appointed attorney, declined to comment when reached by The News Tribune on Friday.
