Two men from the Seattle area have been sentenced to six years in federal prison for their roles in a violent drug trafficking organization. The sentences were handed down in U.S. District Court in Seattle by Judge John H. Chun.
Khaliil Ahmed, also known as “Bossup,” 27, received a 72-month sentence for two counts of illegally possessing firearms. Yohannes Wondimagegnehu, also known as “Jon,” 36, was sentenced to 72 months for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Both men will serve three years of supervised release following their prison terms.
“These are serious offenses,” said Judge Chun at sentencing. He told Ahmed, “These offenses carry a maximum of 15 years – serious stuff.”
The year-long investigation led law enforcement to seize more than 19 kilograms of fentanyl, 12 firearms, and over $130,000 in cash. During an October 2024 operation targeting the group, authorities confiscated more than 50 firearms—including 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 in bulk cash and jewelry, one kilogram of fentanyl, and four kilograms of cocaine.
Ahmed was identified as a member of the conspiracy operating out of Kent, Washington. One charge against him is linked to his possession of guns during an August 20, 2023 fatal shooting at a hookah bar in South Seattle that left three people dead and Ahmed injured. He was also involved in another shooting on May 4, 2024 at an apartment in First Hill where surveillance video showed him pointing a gun at the victim. Ahmed is prohibited from having firearms due to a previous conviction from 2022 related to illegal firearm possession during a drive-by shooting. When officers searched his residence during this case’s investigation, they found two additional Glock firearms.
Wondimagegnehu was identified as helping operate an apartment near Seattle’s University District that served as a drug distribution site. In June 2024, one leader of the conspiracy was shot dead there; despite this incident—which remains under investigation—Wondimagegnehu continued distributing drugs from that location.
A search warrant executed at Wondimagegnehu’s home on October 30, 2024 resulted in the seizure of eight firearms along with various narcotics and proceeds from drug sales. Authorities also discovered he had a money counting machine used for handling those proceeds.
In total, law enforcement arrested fourteen individuals connected to this drug trafficking organization; these two are the first sentenced. Seven others have pleaded guilty and await sentencing; one remains at large. The trial for lead defendant Ali Kuyateh (“Pops”), age 50 from Seattle, is expected to be postponed until spring 2026.
This prosecution falls under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations through coordinated efforts among multiple agencies led by prosecutors using intelligence-driven strategies. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .
Homeland Security Investigations led the probe with help from numerous other local and federal agencies including the 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 (Field Operations & Air/Marine Operations); U.S. Border Patrol; King County Sheriff’s Office; 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; Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Jensen and Joseph Silvio are prosecuting the case.
