FBI and Seattle Police arrest three connected to illegal gun possession and firearms trafficking

Seattle – Three Seattle-area men were arrested today on a criminal complaint charging each defendant with unlawful possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Marquise Tolbert, 27, of Tacoma, Washington, Parchey Kelly, 29, of Issaquah, Washington, and Kisean Coleman, 22, of Renton, Washington, were arrested today. The men made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle today.

According to the criminal complaint, Marquise Tolbert is alleged to have possessed firearms on May 28, 2023, and on June 1, 2023. Tolbert is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a September 2022 conviction in King County Superior Court for illegally possessing a firearm. Kelly allegedly possessed a firearm on May 30, 2023. Kelly is a prohibited person due to a conviction for assault – a domestic violence conviction from 2019. Coleman is alleged to have possessed a firearm on June 1, 2023. Coleman is a prohibited person due to theft and robbery convictions in King County Superior Court in 2019.

According to a detailed criminal complaint, investigators with the FBI Safe Streets task force, the DEA, and the Seattle Police Gun Violence Reduction Unit, were investigating a drug trafficking organization when Tolbert and the other defendants were heard on the wiretap discussing a gang related shoot-out in Federal Way. From that point on, investigators worked to identify those who were possessing and using firearms as part of their criminal activity.

In various conversations, Tolbert, Coleman, and Kelly discussed their efforts to obtain, buy or sell firearms. In some instances, the men texted images of the firearms they wanted to buy or sell. On May 30, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant in the 3800 block of Klahanie Drive SE, in Issaquah and seized four firearms from Kelly’s car and residence in an effort to interdict the gun sales. 

On June 1, 2023, the wiretap indicated Tolbert was in the process of buying a Ruger handgun from Coleman. Law enforcement obtained a warrant and searched Tolbert’s residence seizing the Ruger firearm. 

Coleman was arrested today, and additional firearms were seized from his residence. Tolbert was arrested on the federal charges today when he reported to his state probation officer. Kelly was arrested today without incident.

Illegal firearms possession is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint 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 the FBI, the Seattle Police Department, and the DEA as part of their focus on getting firearms off the streets.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Hobbs and Michelle Jensen.