Washington man arrested on drug charges years after Inslee grants clemency
A Washington man, Percy Levy, was arrested on multiple drug and weapons charges on Thursday, despite being granted clemency by former Gov. Jay Inslee in 2019. The arrest of Levy, 54, was reported by the Lynwood Times, a Snohomish County newspaper. The Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force conducted a 16-month investigation leading to the arrest of Levy during a traffic stop in Everett. A subsequent search of Levy’s home yielded a significant amount of illegal substances including powder cocaine, rock cocaine, and fentanyl. Detectives also found packaging material, a digital scale, and a handgun on the premises.
Levy was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. According to online inmate records of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Bureau, Levy faces 11 Class B Felony charges and is currently held on a $1.5 million bond.
Despite being granted clemency in 2019, Levy has a criminal history dating back to his teenage years. He previously served 17 years in prison following a 2002 arrest for a drug house robbery. Inslee’s decision to grant Levy clemency was made in light of the State v. Blake ruling in 2021, which reclassified possession of controlled substances as a misdemeanor.
In the years following his clemency, Levy reportedly dedicated himself to criminal justice reform. He worked as a community outreach specialist for the Washington Defender Association and founded Redemption Auto, a car dealership in Everett. Levy also holds the position of treasurer on the Board of the Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County chapter.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office stated that the investigation into Levy’s case is ongoing. The matter of his arrest, despite being granted clemency, raises questions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and the potential for recidivism among individuals with a history of criminal behavior.
