A grand jury indicted two men on Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charges after alleging they led a violent group that targeted victims around Washington.
In connection with the tragic house invasion that killed Irah M. Sok, 36, in August 2022, authorities are holding Kevin Thissel, 28, and Chris Johnson, 23, on federal charges. According to authorities, Thissel has been in detention since April, and Johnson has been in custody since 2022 on other charges.
The men will be prosecuted in state court for first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, first-degree theft of a firearm, and unlawful possession of firearms.
United States Attorney Tessa Gorman filed RICO charges against Thissel and Johnson for “leading and participating in a violent gang that terrorized from South King County to Snohomish County to Skagit County.”
According to Gorman, the guys frightened families and children by committing robberies, burglaries, kidnappings, and murder. According to authorities, the criminal cell, led by Thissel and Johnson, wore dark clothing and masks and targeted homes when they knew people were present. Striking late at night or early in the morning, Gorman said the males would frequently kick in the door, sometimes claiming to be law enforcement. The thieves used zip ties to confine the victims and searched the property for valuables, according to Gorman. Some of the victims were as young as nine years old.
According to Gorman, this is the first RICO indictment in the Western District of Washington in 17 years. She asserted that the 1970-enacted RICO act serves as a vital tool for law enforcement in their efforts to combat organized crime. According to Gorman, investigating each instance independently rather than collectively would have prevented investigators from tracing the entire breadth of violent acts.
“They terrorized families,” Gorman explained. “They terrorized young people in our neighborhoods throughout the Western District of Washington.” They achieved it through robbery, burglary, kidnapping, and murder. They used fear to control their victims, as well as to instill fear in our communities.
Sok died from a gunshot wound during the horrific August 2022 home invasion, according to authorities. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office reports that three guys broke into a home on the 2600 block of 96th Street Southeast, just east of Interstate 5 near Everett Mall in unincorporated Everett.
At least one of the males was wearing a mask or disguise, and another “possibly had his face painted,” a SCSO spokesperson told KING 5 crews on the site.
According to the SCSO, the men who broke into the home went to the second floor and shot and killed Sok.
According to officials, the spouse rushed to a neighbor’s house and called 911 after the suspects who broke in escaped on foot. There was a child in the house at the time. According to the sheriff’s office, both the husband and the child are safe.
According to investigators, the criminal cell targeted Asian-American families in their spate of violent attacks.
“The break in this case shows our detective’s perseverance and commitment to solving crimes in our community and bringing us one step closer to justice for Irah and her family,” stated Snohomish County Sheriff Susanna Johnson. “This cruel act of violence had a significant impact on our community, since it left a little child without his mother.” This investigation was extremely complex.”
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes tipline at 425-388-3845 is the number to call if you have any information about this ongoing investigation.
