Seattle Fentanyl Kingpin Caged for 20 Years

⏱ 3 min read

Leon Henderson, 34, is facing two decades behind bars after a jury convicted him of supplying the poison that’s ripping through Seattle’s streets. The bust, centered in the hard-hit North Aurora neighborhood, unfolded over 2023 with three separate seizures – January, May, and September – each time turning up over a thousand blue fentanyl pills. Henderson wasn’t just slinging dope; he was also packing a stolen firearm on at least two occasions.

A raid on Henderson’s stash house uncovered a terrifying haul: over 18,000 fentanyl pills, 220 grams of straight fentanyl powder, and a hefty 700 grams of methamphetamine. He was peddling those pills for a single dollar each, practically begging for overdoses. Judge Jamal Whitehead didn’t hold back, calling out Henderson’s predatory practice of targeting vulnerable, homeless addicts.

“This wasn’t just about moving product,” Whitehead stated at sentencing. “This was about exploiting desperation.” The Judge estimated Henderson’s supply carried the potential for 18,000 overdoses. The illegal firearms only compounded the danger, showing Henderson had no regard for public safety. Repeat arrests clearly failed to deter him.

Federal officials are framing the case as a win for targeted policing. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd highlighted the FBI and Seattle PD’s focus on North Aurora as a key trafficking hotspot. FBI Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington emphasized Henderson continued to pump fentanyl onto the streets even while illegally armed and repeatedly apprehended.