A Seattle resident, Leon Henderson, was sentenced on Mar. 19 in U.S. District Court to 20 years in prison for multiple drug and firearm offenses, according to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Henderson, age 34, was convicted of three counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal law enforcement to address crime hotspots in Seattle, particularly the North Aurora area. Authorities said that Henderson’s repeated arrests throughout 2023 each involved large quantities of fentanyl pills and, on two occasions, loaded firearms.
At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead remarked that Henderson knowingly sold drugs to homeless addicts who were especially vulnerable. “The numbers in this case speak volumes.” Mr. Henderson had “over 18,000 fentanyl pills, 220 grams of fentanyl powder, and 700 grams of methamphetamine.” Selling the fentanyl pills for “a dollar per pill,” he could have caused “18,000 potential overdoses in our community,” Judge Whitehead said.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd said: “This case exemplifies the effort federal law enforcement is making around crime hotspots in our city, such as the North Aurora emphasis area… This case took significant deadly drugs, firearms, and a habitual criminal off the street.” W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office added: “Even though Mr. Henderson had multiple chances to change his destructive behavior, he persisted in selling fentanyl to homeless and vulnerable individuals while illegally in possession of stolen, loaded firearms… The FBI and our partners will continue to pursue dangerous drug traffickers to hold them accountable and keep our communities safe.”
Court records show that during three separate arrests—in January outside Park Plaza Motel on Aurora Avenue; May in Capitol Hill; and September near a Ballard homeless encampment—Henderson was found with increasing amounts of fentanyl pills (from about 1,700 up to nearly 10,000), methamphetamine or cash each time. Loaded firearms were also recovered during two incidents.
Henderson’s mandatory minimum sentence includes ten years for drug possession charges plus consecutive five-year terms for each related firearm offense. The jury also found him guilty of illegal firearm possession due to prior felony convictions for promoting prostitution and felony harassment.
Prosecutors noted concerns about Henderson’s criminal history involving violence against women and suggested he may have continued promoting prostitution alongside his drug activities.
Following his prison term, Henderson will serve five years under supervised release.
