One of the leaders of an armed robbery group responsible for a series of violent home invasion robberies in 2022 has pleaded guilty to racketeering and conspiracy to commit RICO, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Christopher Johnson, 24, entered his plea in federal court and now faces up to life in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lauren King on May 6, 2026. Both prosecution and defense have agreed to recommend a sentence of 25 years.
Court documents state that Johnson admitted his involvement in multiple violent crimes carried out alongside codefendant Kevin Thissel, 29, and other associates. The plea agreement outlines how the group targeted families during the summer of 2022, breaking into homes at night while posing as police officers and carrying firearms. The crew wore masks and used zip-ties to restrain victims, including children as young as nine years old. During one incident, a young mother was fatally shot while her seven-year-old child was beside her.
Each participant had specific roles within the crew: identifying potential targets based on social media activity indicating wealth or valuable possessions; conducting surveillance; driving; forcing entry; controlling family members at gunpoint; and searching for valuables inside the homes. Some participants were juveniles.
The crimes included in Johnson’s plea agreement are:
– Armed robbery of a family in Mount Vernon, Washington on May 24, 2022.
– Kidnapping of a young boy during the same Mount Vernon robbery.
– Attempted robbery on Mercer Island on May 24, where shots were fired but no one was injured.
– Burglary of an unoccupied residence in Kent on May 27.
– Attempted burglary of an occupied home in Kent on June 19; residents returned fire causing the suspects to flee.
– Armed robbery of a couple in Burien on July 14.
– Armed robbery and abduction of a woman in Kent on July 28; she was forced to withdraw cash from ATMs.
– Robbery of two Kent residents who were locked in a closet while their home was searched for valuables on August 12.
– Armed robbery involving a couple and their child in Everett on August 19.
– Murder of one victim during the Everett robbery later that day.
Some acts described have not been formally charged but may be considered by the judge during sentencing or restitution decisions.
As part of his plea agreement, Johnson will also plead guilty to second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Irah Marcello Sok during the August 19 Everett incident. Both parties will recommend that this sentence run concurrently with his federal term. Johnson is requesting that he serve his time within Washington State Prison system—a decision left to Judge King’s discretion.
The investigation has involved multiple agencies including the FBI, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, Mount Vernon Police Department, Kent Police Department, and King County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Brian Wynne are prosecuting this case. Former Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Hobbs and Michael Lang collaborated closely with Snohomish County Prosecutors Office throughout the investigation and charging process.
