SEATTLE — A 51-year-old Seattle man was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Thursday for drug trafficking, according to the United States Attorney’s Office Western District.
According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Clyde McKnight was convicted May 21 for possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms.
“This defendant was a significant drug dealer in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood, spreading addiction, despair, and potentially deadly fentanyl throughout our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “He has been involved with crime for decades, and did significant state prison time for attempted murder. This federal sentence is necessary to protect the public from the defendant’s callous disregard for community safety.”
The case stemmed from a six-month investigation back in 2017, officials said.
According to court records, McKnight was arrested outside of a motel in Portland in January 2018 after law enforcement seized 2.6 kilograms of cocaine, 1.5 kilograms of heroin, 607 grams of crack cocaine, 42 grams of methamphetamine and 180 grams of fentanyl from Mcknight’s vehicle, which authorities observed he was using as storage for the drugs.
During the night of Jan. 2, Seattle police reportedly impounded McKnight’s car, which he parked in various areas in the Mount Baker neighborhood, officials said. The next day, McKnight reportedly called 911 multiple times to report his vehicle had been stolen; however, when he was informed that it had been impounded and was in the police evidence yard, McKnight fled and went to Portland where he was arrested.
Officials said McKnight had a handgun and $36,000 on him during the arrest.
Police also searched McKnight’s Seattle apartment after getting a warrant and recovered another gun, authorities said.
According to the release, McKnight is prohibited from possessing any guns due to prior convictions, including one for attempted murder.
In addition to McKnight’s conviction, four other people were charged, convicted and sentenced in connection with the case, officials said.
McKnight’s original trial was set for April 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic, which stopped any in-person appearances in the U.S. District Courthouse.
During Thursday’s sentencing, “U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly ordered McKnight to also pay a $36,000 fine and serve five years of supervised release following prison.”
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