Keled Ali, 28, of Seattle, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for running a rogue marijuana distribution hub in Rainier Valley, federal prosecutors announced today. Ali admitted to maintaining a drug-involved premise and possessing oxycodone and marijuana with intent to distribute, charges stemming from a years-long investigation into violent crime linked to his unlicensed storefront.
The operation, known as ‘One Stop’ and located in the 5300 block of Rainier Avenue South, was never authorized under Washington State’s marijuana regulatory system. Federal and local investigators say the business functioned as a magnet for gang activity and violent crime, including a fatal shooting in December 2017 and a drive-by attack in March 2018. Despite the state’s legal cannabis framework, Ali restricted sales to those ‘introduced by members of their club,’ creating a shadow network outside official oversight.
On March 5, 2018, federal agents executed a search warrant at the site, uncovering more than three pounds of marijuana and a 9 mm semi-automatic firearm locked in a safe. The discovery confirmed suspicions that the business was not only trafficking drugs but also stockpiling weapons. Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Seattle Police Department led the probe, which revealed escalating criminal ties.
Even after the storefront was shut down, Ali continued dealing. In October 2018, he was arrested following repeated drug transactions observed by law enforcement. Inside his vehicle, officers seized over two additional pounds of marijuana and 45 oxycodone pills, all packaged for resale. The oxycodone haul tied Ali directly to the opioid crisis, escalating the federal case against him.
At sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez delivered a blunt warning: ‘When you run an illegal business you become a much larger target to people that want to take your drugs or your profits…. It attracts a criminal element to the community.’ U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran echoed the sentiment, stating, ‘This defendant intentionally designed a business to undermine and thwart the State’s marijuana regulatory system – and because of that the business attracted violent crime and violent individuals.’
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg. Authorities emphasized that federal enforcement remains focused on operators who blend drug trafficking with violence and circumvent legal markets. Ali’s conviction underscores the ongoing crackdown on illicit cannabis enterprises exploiting regulatory gaps in Washington and beyond.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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