A drug trafficking organization referred to two distribution sites in U District of Seattle as “the House” and “the Office” where leader shot dead outside one location earlier this year
SEATTLE — A coordinated law enforcement operation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle Oct. 31 resulted in eleven arrests of members of a drug trafficking ring which set up shop in the University District of Seattle.
A year-long wire-tap investigation led to an indictment by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Washington of 11 defendants on drug distribution and weapons charges. A 12th defendant with ties to the organization was indicted on illegal weapons possession in connection with a deadly shooting at a Hookah bar in South Seattle.
“This operation exemplifies the power of collaboration among law enforcement agencies at all levels,” said HSI Seattle Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer. “By uniting our resources and expertise, we have successfully dismantled a criminal network that has endangered our communities through violent acts and the distribution of fentanyl. Together, we will continue to fight against violent crime and protect the lives of our citizens.”
Some 600 law enforcement officers from ten different agencies searched 31 locations. A total of 11 people were arrested: nine of those indicted and two additional defendants were arrested on criminal complaints.
Defendants indicted for both gun and drug crimes included:
- Cooper Sherman, aka “Coop,” 27, of Seattle is charged with conspiracy, two counts of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
- Alvin Whiteside, aka “Mafia,” 51, of Federal Way is charged with conspiracy, one count of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Whiteside is in state custody and will be transferred to federal custody.
- Muhamed Ceesay, aka “Mo,” 27, of Lynnwood is charged with conspiracy, two counts of distributing fentanyl, one count of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Ceesay remains a fugitive.
These eight defendants are charged in the indictment for the drug conspiracy and various drug distribution crimes:
- Ali Kuyateh, aka “Pops,” 49, of Seattle
- Lamin Saho aka “Buck,” 38, of Everett, Washington
- Oche Poston, 31, of Everett, Washington
- Jaquan Means, 45, of Bellevue, Washington
- Dominque Sanders, 34, of Everett, Washington — remains a fugitive.
- Patrick Smith, 27 of Edmonds, Washington — remains a fugitive.
- Matthew Robinson, 37, of Everett, Washington
- Yohannes Wondimagegnehu, aka “Jon,” 35, of Seattle
Finally, Khaliil Ahmed, aka “Bossup,” 26, of Kent, Washington, was identified as someone who supplied guns to members of the conspiracy. He is charged in a separate indictment with three counts of illegal possession of firearms and one count of illegal possession of ammunition. Of these charges, two relate to guns he possessed on Aug. 20, 2023, at the time of a fatal shooting at a hookah bar in South Seattle in which he was injured and three others were killed. The final two charges relate to a firearm and ammunition he possessed on May 30, 2024. Ahmed is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2022 conviction for illegally possessing firearms.
An additional two defendants — Anteneh Tesfaye, 39, of Edmonds, Washington, and Michael Janisch, 25, of Mercer Island, Washington — were arrested on criminal complaints.
Law enforcement has seized more than 19 kilograms of fentanyl, 12 firearms, and more than $130,000 in cash over the course of the investigation. The operation resulted in the seizure of over 50 firearms to include fully automatic weapons and handguns with Glock switches; thousands of rounds of ammunition, including high capacity drum magazines, and armor-piercing rounds; several hundred thousand dollars of bulk cash and jewelry; 1 kilogram of fentanyl and 4 kilograms of cocaine.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation, which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
This investigation was led by HSI, with significant participation by Seattle Police Department, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Washington State Patrol, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Bellevue Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Everett Police Department, Renton Police Department, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Washington State National Guard, Washington State Gambling Commission, Yakima County Law Enforcement Against Drugs Narcotics and Gang Task Force, and Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.