A man from Everett, Washington, was sentenced to six years in prison for distributing fentanyl, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Lamin Saho, also known as “Buck,” was identified as a major fentanyl dealer through a wiretap investigation that led to fourteen arrests in October 2024 and five more in late 2025. The drug trafficking group operated between Kent and Everett, using two distribution sites in Seattle’s University District.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge John H. Chun stated, “Fentanyl is a dangerous drug that has devastated far too many lives. One has only to walk out on the streets of Seattle to see how it has devastated our community.”
U.S. Attorney Floyd added, “Mr. Saho distributed thousands of fentanyl pills – the calls recorded on the wiretap indicated he had access to as many as 10,000 pills at a time. Each one of those pills had the potential of killing the user. Our community is safer when we are able to prosecute these drug trafficking rings and get the suppliers behind bars.”
April Miller, acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle, commented on the collaborative law enforcement effort: “Homeland Security Investigations, working closely with our law enforcement partners, led the investigation that brought Saho to justice and indictments for 18 others. Together, we are combatting the lethal effects of fentanyl in our communities by identifying, disrupting, and dismantling dangerous networks. Garnering this sentence for one of the defendants in this case shows our commitment to protecting the public and fighting violent crime at every level.”
Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge at DEA Seattle Field Division said: “Drug trafficking and gun violence go hand in hand, and this case highlights the unfortunate reality, peddling deadly fentanyl and weapons in Seattle’s University District posed a clear and present danger to the entire community. The collaborative efforts of our federal prosecutors along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners resulted in the dismantlement of this drug trafficking organization and brought us one step closer towards making America Fentanyl Free. DEA is committed to protect the United States from synthetic opioids by disrupting the fentanyl supply chain, reducing its availability, and saving American lives.”
Authorities used month-long phone intercepts during their investigation which revealed Saho’s role as one of the most active distributors within his group. Even after police seized 5,000 pills from him during a traffic stop, wiretaps showed he continued his illegal activities until authorities intervened.
Over a yearlong investigation period involving multiple agencies—including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, DEA, ATF—law enforcement seized about 200,000 fentanyl pills along with four kilograms of cocaine; they also confiscated sixty firearms (including Glock switches), several suppressors (devices used to reduce firearm noise), and $250,000 believed to be proceeds from drug sales.
Other members of this ring received prison sentences ranging from four years up to ten years for various roles related to conspiracy or possession charges connected with drugs or firearms.
Saho will serve four years of supervised release after his prison term but may face removal from the U.S., since he is a citizen of The Gambia without legal immigration status.
The operation was part of Homeland Security Task Force initiatives focused on targeting criminal organizations involved not only in narcotics but also other crimes such as human smuggling or child trafficking by leveraging interagency cooperation across local and federal agencies.
The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Jensen and Joseph Silvio.
