Bothell drug courier, boss sentenced in international scheme

Jeff Allyn Walker and Amy Kim Hartlmueller-Torres have pleaded guilty in federal court for their involvement in a major drug trafficking operation that transported narcotics, including cocaine and methamphetamine, from Mexico to Canada. They employed sophisticated encrypted communications for coordination. Walker, acting as a courier, was sentenced to 2½ years in prison after spending over two years in jail prior to sentencing, while Hartlmueller-Torres received a 2¾-year sentence. Walker admitted to making around 30 trips for drug transport, driven by financial struggles as a car salesman. Their arrests were crucial in an ongoing investigation that has led to charges against more than two dozen individuals, underscoring the extensive networks involved in drug trafficking and the challenges faced by law enforcement.

Multiple agencies, including the FBI and local task forces, have collaborated to tackle this issue.