Anchorage Kingpin ‘Cheese’ Faces 20 Years

Anchorage resident Charles Rashid Malik Lee, known on the streets as “Cheese,” is staring down a mandatory minimum of 20 years in federal prison after a jury convicted him on multiple drug and firearm charges. The bust, a joint operation between the FBI and DEA, ripped open a significant narcotics operation and exposed a cache of weapons and illicit cash.

Federal agents raided Lee’s Anchorage residence and vehicle on October 12, 2021, after a period of surveillance. What they found wasn’t a small-time operation. Over 150 grams of methamphetamine, exceeding 100 grams of heroin, and more than 90 grams of cocaine were recovered, with a combined street value topping $54,000. But the drugs were just the beginning.

The search also turned up the tools of the trade – digital scales, heat-sealed baggies, and, critically, two loaded handguns. The presence of these firearms wasn’t incidental; prosecutors successfully argued they were integral to protecting Lee’s drug operation and facilitating its expansion. A fingerprint found on one of the scales directly linked Lee to the handling of the narcotics.

Beyond the drugs and weapons, agents discovered over $165,000 in cash stashed throughout the property, including hidden within a crawl space. This wasn’t pocket change; it was the clear profit from Lee’s high-volume drug trafficking. The feds wasted no time bringing the case before a grand jury, resulting in an indictment in December 2021.

The week-and-a-half-long trial, presided over by Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess, saw federal prosecutors present a mountain of evidence connecting Lee to the seized contraband. The jury didn’t hesitate, finding him guilty on all three felony counts: possession with intent to distribute, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon illegally possessing firearms and ammunition. Lee’s prior convictions played a key role in the latter charge.

Lee’s sentencing date hasn’t been set, but the mandatory minimum of 20 years is almost a certainty. This conviction sends a clear message: Anchorage isn’t a safe haven for drug traffickers. While one operator is off the streets, the FBI and DEA vow to continue dismantling the networks that poison Alaskan communities. This bust demonstrates the continued need for robust federal enforcement to combat the flow of illicit drugs and the violence that follows.