Seattle Man Sentenced to Five Years for Dealing Cocaine While Armed With a Ghost Gun
SEATTLE, Washington — A 24-year-old man in Seattle, King County, Washington, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for dealing drugs while armed. Acting U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd announced that Ishmael Malakhi Weddington was sentenced on November 6, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
On July 28, 2025, Seattle Police officers conducting an operation against drug trafficking in downtown Seattle, around Second Ave and Blanchard Street, watched Weddington sell drugs to a woman and arrested him. Officers found a 9mm firearm with an extended magazine holding 27 bullets, dealer-packaged crack cocaine, cash and a scale. Prosecutors said the gun was a 'ghost gun' produced by a 3D printer, with no serial number.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez told Weddington, 'I hope you are serious when you say you are intent on making changes for the future.' Weddington responded, 'It's imperative that I never return here again.' Judge Martinez said, 'People can say anything they want – but they need to walk the walk.'
'When drug dealers choose to arm themselves to protect their drug trade, they are looking at mandatory federal prison time. We put a priority on prosecuting those cases to try to improve the safety of our community,' said Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd, who commended the Seattle Police Department for bringing the case forward.
Weddington was charged federally on August 7, 2025, and pleaded guilty on August 6, 2026, to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Judge Martinez imposed three years of supervised release to follow the prison term. The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Wynne. (Source: U.S. Department of Justice)
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国司法部总部大楼。美国司法部。 / Photo: The U.S. Department of Justice headquarters building. U.S. Department of Justice.
