Renton police bust Auburn man in federal drug case

By Renton News • June 10, 2024 12:20 pm
Police found a firearm and firearms parts, ammunition, body armor, more than 134 pounds of MDMA, more than 2,300 fentanyl pills, and more in a 33-year-old Auburn man’s apartment while executing a search warrant. (Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Justice)
Police found a firearm and firearms parts, ammunition, body armor, more than 134 pounds of MDMA, more than 2,300 fentanyl pills, and more in a 33-year-old Auburn man’s apartment while executing a search warrant. (Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Justice)

A 33-year-old Auburn man faces federal charges for drug distribution and illegal firearms possession after a Renton Police Department investigation discovered more than 134 pounds of MDMA, fentanyl, and more in his residence.

Law enforcement arrested Andy Peter Vongdala, 33, of Auburn on the night of June 4 on a federal criminal complaint charging firearms and drug distribution crimes, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Vongdala faced a federal criminal complaint after Renton police discovered controlled substances and multiple firearms in Vongdala’s possession on April 26 while executing a search warrant on his residence, according to the justice department. Vongdala served as the suspect in a series of commercial burglaries in Renton.

After Renton police worked with King County prosecutors and obtained a search warrant for the burglary investigation for Vongdala’s residence, they served the search warrant on April 26, and encountered Vongdala leaving his two-bedroom apartment. In a backpack on his person, police found a stolen Glock firearm and more than two kilograms of MDMA, also known as ecstasy.

A search of Vongdala’s residence found another firearm and firearm parts, in addition to ammunition and body armor, according to the justice department. In Vongdala’s bedroom, police recovered more than 134 pounds of MDMA, more than 2,300 fentanyl pills, almost two pounds of methamphetamine, and smaller amounts of suspected heroin, cocaine and alprazolam.

Police booked Vongdala on his outstanding warrants, and he subsequently posted bail, according to the the department.

Federal prosecutors have charged Vongdala with two counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

“Due to the quantity of drugs seized in this case, the penalties include a mandatory minimum ten years in prison,” according to a statement from the justice department. “Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is punishable by an additional five years in prison which runs consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case.”

The Renton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives serve as investigators on the case.