The U District drug trafficking ring has been dismantled by local law enforcement

Members of a violent drug trafficking ring in Seattle's University District have been arrested.

U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman announced Thursday that the year-long wiretap investigation culminated in the indictment of 11 defendants on drug trafficking and weapons charges. A 12th defendant linked to the organization has been charged with illegal weapons possession in connection with a deadly shooting at a hookah bar in south Seattle. The arrested defendants are scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

“These defendants were prolific fentanyl dealers who were often armed when guarding their warehouse or distributing their drugs,” Gorman said in a news release. “The danger to the community in this case cannot be overstated. The drug crew's leader was shot dead last summer, right outside one of the locations in the U-District where members of the crew were distributing their poison, and continued to do so after the fatal shooting.”

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Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer said, “This operation is an example of the power of cooperation between law enforcement agencies at all levels.” By combining our resources and expertise, we have succeeded in dismantling a criminal network that has been ravaging our communities through acts of violence and violence has endangered the spread of fentanyl.”

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke added: “There is no real relief for those who have lost loved ones to drug-related crime or rising overdoses. We stand with our law enforcement partners to stop groups profiting from the fentanyl epidemic by going after the money.”

The operation included searches at 31 locations by approximately 600 police officers from ten different agencies. Eleven people were arrested: nine defendants and two other defendants on criminal charges.

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Three defendants are charged with weapons and drug offenses:

• Cooper Sherman, aka “Coop,” 27, of Seattle: conspiracy, two counts of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and carrying a firearm during and in connection with a drug trafficking crime.
• Alvin Whiteside, aka “Mafia,” 51, of Federal Way: conspiracy, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and carrying a firearm during and in connection with a drug trafficking crime. Whiteside is in state custody and will be transferred to federal custody.
• Muhamed Ceesay, aka “Mo,” 27, of Lynnwood: conspiracy, two counts of distribution of fentanyl, possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Ceesay remains a refugee.

Eight defendants are charged with drug conspiracy and various drug distribution crimes:

• Ali Kuyateh, aka “Pops,” 49, of Seattle
• Lamin Saho, also known as “Buck,” 38, of Everett
• Oche Poston, 31, of Everett
• Jaquan Means, 45, of Bellevue
• Dominque Sanders, 34, of Everett – remains a fugitive.
• Patrick Smith, 27, of Edmonds – remains a fugitive.
• Matthew Robinson, 37, of Everett
• Yohannes Wondimagegnehu, aka “Jon,” 35, of Seattle

Khaliil Ahmed, aka “Bossup”, 26, from Kent, has been identified as the arms supplier to the conspiracy. He faces separate charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition related to a fatal shooting at a South Seattle hookah bar and another incident in May 2024. Ahmed is banned from owning firearms due to a conviction in 2022.

Two other defendants, Anteneh Tesfaye, 39, of Edmonds, and Michael Janisch, 25, of Mercer Island, were arrested on criminal charges.

During the investigation, law enforcement seized over 19 kilograms of fentanyl, 12 firearms and more than $130,000 in cash. During recent operations, over 50 firearms, including fully automatic weapons and handguns with Glock switches, thousands of rounds of ammunition, high-capacity drum magazines, armor-piercing cartridges, several hundred thousand dollars in cash and jewelry, 1 kg of fentanyl, etc. were found, as well as 4 kg of cocaine.

The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with significant input from multiple agencies, including the Seattle and Bellevue Police Department and the King County Sheriff's Office.

Bill Kaczaraba is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here. Follow Bill on X, formerly known as Twitter, Here and send him an email here.