SEATTLE — Authorities on Wednesday arrested nearly a dozen alleged members of a drug trafficking ring accused of distributing fentanyl in Seattle and Everett.
On Wednesday, 600 law enforcement officers searched 31 locations, resulting in 11 arrests, according to federal prosecutors. Eight were indicted in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
They are:
• Lamin Saho, 38, of Everett;
• Oche Poston, 31, of Everett;
• Matthew Robinson, 37, of Everett;
• Cooper Sherman, 27, of Seattle;
• Alvin Whiteside, 51, of Federal Way;
• Ali Kuyateh, 49, of Seattle;
• Jaquan Means, 45, of Bellevue; and
• Yohannes Wondimagegnehu, 35, of Seattle.
They were arraigned Wednesday. Hearings on the terms of their detentions were set for Friday and Monday.
Investigators arrested three others — Anteneh Tesfaye, 39, of Edmonds, Khaliil Ahmed, 26, of Kent, and Michael Janisch, 25, of Mercer Island — on separate charges.
And three more — Muhamed Ceesay, 27, of Lynnwood, Dominique Sanders, 34, of Everett, and Patrick Smith, 27, of Edmonds — remained at large Thursday.
As part of the investigation, authorities seized over 19 kilograms of fentanyl and more than $130,000 in cash. On Wednesday, they seized over 50 guns, according to federal prosecutors. Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies worked together on the investigation.
The group’s distribution centers were based in Seattle’s University District in what members called the “house” and the “office,” prosecutors said.
“These defendants were prolific fentanyl dealers who were frequently armed when guarding their stash or distributing their drugs,” U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman said in a press release. “The danger to the community cannot be overstated in this case. The leader of the drug crew was gunned down last summer – right in front of one of the U District locations where members of the crew distributed their poison, and continued do so, following the deadly shooting.”
Further details about the shooting were not provided.
Ahmed was indicted on gun charges related to a separate shooting. On Aug. 20, 2023, he was injured in a shooting at a South Seattle hookah bar that left three dead. At the time, he had guns on him that he wasn’t allowed to possess because of a prior unlawful firearm possession conviction, according to prosecutors.
The criminal indictments filed in federal court contained few details about the ring’s operations.
Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com; X: @GoldsteinStreet.
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