Compliant alleges 17 pharmacy burglaries in less than a year
Seattle – Two men have been charged in a 24-count indictment following the investigation of a string of pharmacy burglaries that stretched from Kirkland, Washington, to Chehalis, Washington, announced First Assistant United States Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Koumssa Wakgira, 44, of Seattle and Juston Young, 42, of Renton, Washington, are charged in an indictment alleging conspiracy to commit burglaries involving controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, five counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and 17 counts of burglary or attempted burglary involving controlled substances. Young was arraigned on the indictment last month and is detained pending additional hearings. Wakgira was arrested by the U.S. Marshal Service this morning and will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:00 today.
“As alleged in the indictment, these defendants were relentless in their attempts to break into pharmacies and steal narcotics,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “I commend local and federal law enforcement who worked together to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
“These defendants fueled the illegal drug market and placed communities at risk by stealing thousands of doses of controlled substances, targeting pharmacies throughout the Puget Sound region for nearly a year.” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts and DEA’s commitment to disrupting the diversion and illegal distribution of prescription medications.”
According to records filed in the case, the two have been linked to a series of pharmacy burglaries where a variety of prescription medications were the target. In some cases, the suspects failed to obtain any pharmaceuticals, but in one case they obtained more than 24,000 doses of restricted medications worth more than $37,000.
The detailed criminal complaint lays out how the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) worked with state and local law enforcement to link the two men to various pharmacy burglaries using surveillance images from cameras at the pharmacies. DNA evidence was linked to one of the suspects from a piece of clothing left at a burglary scene. Court documents outline how investigators linked various cars involved in the scheme to Wakgira and Young, how their phones confirmed their proximity to each other, and how clothing, tools, and narcotics recovered in searches of the men’s home and vehicles tied them to the burglaries.
In all, one or both defendants are allegedly tied to these burglaries or attempted burglaries:
5/2/25, Bob Johnson’s Pharmacy, Seattle – Wakgira
5/8/25, Arow Pharmacy Olympia, WA – Wakgira & Young
5/17/25, Sy Pharmacy, Seattle – Wakgira
9/13/25, Hawks Prairie Pharmacy, Lacey, WA – Wakgira & Young
9/13/25, Good Pharmacy, Tacoma, WA – Wakgira & Young
11/16/25, Navos Pharmacy, Seattle, – Wakgira & Young
11/28/25, Ready Meds Pharmacy, Renton, WA – Wakgira & Young
12/20/25, Evergreen Professional Center Pharm., Kirkland, – Wakgira & Young
12/21/25, Swedish Arnold Pharmacy, Seattle, – Wakgira & Young
12/25/25, Fred Meyer Pharmacy, Seattle – Wakgira & Young
1/1/26, Tukwila Station Pharmacy, SeaTac, WA – Wakgira
2/1/26, Tukwila Station Pharmacy, SeaTac, WA – Wakgira
2/24/26, Sea Mar Pharmacy, Olympia, WA – Wakgira
2/25/26 Purdy Cost Less Prescriptions, Gig Harbor, WA – Wakgira & Young
3/22/26, Panorama Pharmacy, Lacey, WA – Wakgira
3/22/26, Centralia Pharmacy, Centralia, WA – Wakgira
3/22/26, Chehalis Pharmacy, Chehalis, WA – Wakgira
As part of the investigation, in March 2026, law enforcement observed Wakgira engaged in what appears to be drug sales following some of the burglaries.
Conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances is punishable by up to ten years in prison. Burglary and attempted burglary involving controlled substances is punishable by up to twenty years in prison. Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute are punishable by up to twenty years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by DEA Seattle Diversion Group with assistance from Olympia Special Investigations Response Team (SIRT), the Olympia, Lacey, and Renton Police Departments, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Yemini.
pharmacy_burglary_complaint.pdf
Contact
Press contact for the U.S. Attorney’s Office is Communications Director Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110or Emily.Langlie@usdoj.gov.
