Seattle Field Division
Photo used under Creative Commons from Wikimedia user Cacophony
Welcome to Seattle Field Division, ATF’s largest geographic division in the country. We cover Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Hawaii and Guam. Our dedicated work force is comprised of special agents, investigators, auditors, technicians and support staff.
ATF has the duty to regulate the firearms and explosives industries. Our goal is to ensure that all firearms and explosives are stored, handled and sold in a safe and legal manner. In the Northwest, this includes construction and mining industries who use explosives routinely in their business.
In addition to regulatory functions, the investigative priorities of the Seattle Field Division include firearms trafficking, gang violence, bombings/explosives and tobacco diversion. The modernization of our National Firearms Tracing Center and the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network has contributed to the success of these initiatives.
ATF Seattle is committed to reducing violent crime in our neighborhoods and has created a multi-agency Violent Crime Gang Task Force in partnership with state and local law enforcement agencies. Some of our more notable violent crime investigations have involved the Bandidos, East African Posse and Surenos gangs. Seattle is also home to the newest ATF Crime Gun Center.
ATF Seattle proactively investigates violations of federal law pertaining to firearms, arson and explosives. We work jointly with state and local fire departments and police departments in a myriad of complex investigations, to include serial arsons, fatality bombings and domestic/ international firearms trafficking.
We encourage all residents in the Seattle Field Division to be diligent in the fight against crime and to get involved in their communities. For additional resources, information, questions and opportunities - please give us a call. Our phone number is (206) 389-5800.
Kelvin N. Crenshaw
Division Management Team
- Kelvin N. Crenshaw
- Special Agent In Charge (SAC)
- Mark A. Leiser
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- Vacant
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- Janet C. Van Haelst
- Director of Industry Operations (DIO)
- Cheryl D. Bishop
- Public Information Officer (PIO)
Division Contact Information
Receive Seattle Press Release Updates
Defendants Who Illegally Sold Firearms at Gunshows Sentenced to 18 Month Prison Terms
February 2, 2012
The second of two defendants convicted of selling firearms at gun shows without a required federal license, was sentenced to 18 months in prison today, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. MARK A. SKILES, 47, of Belfair, Washington, was convicted in October 2011, of Conspiracy to Unlawfully Deal Firearms and Unlawfully dealing in firearms. SKILES, and his business partner, KENNETH GUSSONI, 56, of Bremerton, Washington, were identified in an undercover federal investigation repeatedly selling firearms at gun shows without the required federal licenses. GUSSONI pleaded guilty, and was sentenced last month to 18 months in prison. At the sentencing hearing today, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle said, the illegal sale of firearms is dangerous,
and a very serious offense. More »
Defendants Who Illegally Sold Firearms at Gunshows Sentenced to 18 Month Prison Terms
February 2, 2012
The second of two defendants convicted of selling firearms at gun shows without a required federal license, was sentenced to 18 months in prison today, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. MARK A. SKILES, 47, of Belfair, Washington, was convicted in October 2011, of Conspiracy to Unlawfully Deal Firearms and Unlawfully dealing in firearms. SKILES, and his business partner, KENNETH GUSSONI, 56, of Bremerton, Washington, were identified in an undercover federal investigation repeatedly selling firearms at gun shows without the required federal licenses. GUSSONI pleaded guilty, and was sentenced last month to 18 months in prison. At the sentencing hearing today, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle said, the illegal sale of firearms is dangerous,
and a very serious offense. More »
Six Fairbanks Men Arrested on Indictment for Drug Conspiracy
February 1, 2012
Fairbanks, Alaska — United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, February 1, 2012, that six residents of Fairbanks, Alaska, were arrested during a joint federal and state takedown. The six individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury in Anchorage on January 19, 2012, on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute powder, crack cocaine, and oxycodone pills in Fairbanks. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy began in June 2010, and continued through March 2011. The indictment detailed nearly 30 transactions involving six different named co–conspirators who had distributed illegal controlled substances. More »
Anchorage Meth Dealer Receives 120–Month Sentence
February 1, 2012
Anchorage, Alaska — United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, February 1, 2012, that on January 31, 2012, Son Chieng Saephan, a resident of Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage to 120 months for his conviction of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. More »
Ketchikan Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm
February 1, 2012
Anchorage, Alaska — United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, February 1, 2011, that Steven Kyle Doran, a resident of Ketchikan, Alaska, was sentenced in federal court in Juneau to seven years for his conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. More »
Man Who Lived for Three Decades Under False Identity Sentenced for Identify Theft and Illegal Gun Possession
January 27, 2012
A Covington, Washington, man who lived under a stolen identity for more than 30 years, even as he racked up prison sentences, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Seattle to 57 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. CURTIS TYRONE WUDTEE, 62, pleaded guilty in 2011 to misuse of a Social Security Number, aggravated identity theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm. While living under the identity of M.L.S., a person he met in 1977, WUDTEE was convicted of multiple different felonies and failed to pay back taxes. Those activities impacted the person whose identity had been stolen. More »
Coordinated Raids in Seattle Area and Bay Area Disrupts Large Drug Trafficking Organization
January 25, 2012
Twenty people are in custody following the coordinated take down of a lengthy investigation into a cocaine, meth and heroin trafficking ring that stretched from San Francisco to Vancouver, Canada, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. The investigation, which utilized court authorized wire taps, revealed how the conspirators brought multi–kilo loads of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine into the Seattle area from California, and distributed it in Western Washington, or sent it north into Canada. Most of the defendants taken into custody today will make their initial appearance on the charges at 2:30 today in U.S. District Court in Seattle. More »
Mexican National Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing Firearms
January 17, 2012
BOISE — Ceila Ivonnie Loya, 32, a Mexican national formerly living in Wendell, Idaho, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. She pled guilty in October 2011. More »
Snohomish County Man Sentenced to Prison for Robbery Tied to Gun Trafficking Investigation
January 13, 2012
A 20–year–old Snohomish County man was sentenced to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to rob property of the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. KEVIN KNOWLES was arrested in April 2011, after he and three other men used an AK–47 assault rifle to rob a person who was working with law enforcement. The robbers did not know their meeting with the gun purchaser was being monitored by law enforcement. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour. More »
