‘These defendants were relentless’: 2 men charged in connection with string of western WA pharmacy burglaries

Two men have been charged in connection with a string of pharmacy burglaries that spanned from Chehalis to Kirkland.

Koumssa Wakgira, 44, from Seattle, and Juston Young, 42, from Renton, were 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, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Young was arraigned on the indictment last month and is detained pending additional hearings, while Wakgira was arrested Tuesday by the U.S. Marshal’s Office.

The two allegedly targeted a variety of prescription medications. In one case, the suspects allegedly stole more than 24,000 doses of restricted medications worth more than $37,000.

Law enforcement used surveillance images from cameras at the pharmacies to track down the suspects. DNA evidence was linked to one of the suspects from a piece of clothing left behind at the scene. Investigators also traced various cars involved in the scheme back to the suspects, according to the attorney’s office.

“As alleged in the indictment, these defendants were relentless in their attempts to break into pharmacies and steal narcotics,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd said.

Pharmacy burglaries spanned western WA

Wakgira was reportedly tied to burglaries at Bob Johnson’s Pharmacy in Seattle, Sy Pharmacy in Seattle, Tukwila Station Pharmacy in SeaTac, Sea Mar Pharmacy in Olympia, Panorama Pharmacy in Lacey, Centralia Pharmacy, and Chehalis Pharmacy.

Wakgira and Young were linked to burglaries at Arow Pharmacy in Olympia, Hawks Prairie Pharmacy in Lacey, Panorama Pharmacy in Lacey, Good Pharmacy in Tacoma, Navos Pharmacy in Seattle, Swedish Arnold Pharmacy in Seattle, Fred Meyer Pharmacy in Seattle, Ready Meds Pharmacy in Renton, Evergreen Professional Center Pharmacy in Kirkland, and Purdy Cost Less Prescriptions in Gig Harbor.

The burglaries spanned from May 2, 2025, to March 22, 2026.

In March 2026, law enforcement saw Wakgira engage in what appeared to be drug sales following some of the burglaries, the attorney’s office stated.

“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,” Robert Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division, said.

The attorney’s office noted conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, while burglary and attempted burglary involving controlled substances and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute are punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

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