11 Arrested, including Satan in Downtown Bellingham in Drug and Organized Crime Bust

BELLINGHAM, WA – On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force (WGDTF), in collaboration with the Bellingham Police Department, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, and the Washington State Department of Corrections, arrested eleven individuals in and around downtown Bellingham for alleged drug delivery offenses.

The arrests stem from an investigation initiated by the WGDTF in November 2024 targeting street-level drug dealers in Bellingham’s downtown business district. This action was in response to numerous complaints regarding open-air drug use, alleged drug sales, and related criminal activities. Investigators identified Satan Nehtah Wey, age 34 (legal name) as a primary suspect, allegedly operating out of a small RV on the 100 block of E. Magnolia Street, which investigators believed served as his base of operations.

In December, investigators executed a search warrant on Nehtah Wey’s RV. The search reportedly uncovered evidence consistent with street-level drug sales, including:

• Over 100 small packages of suspected fentanyl, weighing approximately 226 grams gross.
• Several small packages of suspected methamphetamine, weighing 7 grams gross.
• A small quantity of suspected fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycontin pills.
• 17 Suboxone strips.
• A small amount of suspected psilocybin mushrooms.
• Over $4,000 in small-denomination U.S. currency, allegedly including pre-recorded WGDTF “buy money.”

Undercover detectives reportedly conducted approximately 24 controlled purchases of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine from Nehtah Wey, his alleged associates, and other street-level dealers in the area over a two-month period.

On Jan. 7, officers from the Bellingham Police Department and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office arrested Nehtah Wey and ten other individuals on probable cause linked to the investigation.

Allegations Against Nehtah Wey

Nehtah Wey faces charges including six counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), three counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl), Possession with Intent to Deliver (Methamphetamine and Fentanyl), and Leading Organized Crime. Under Washington State law, Leading Organized Crime is defined as intentionally organizing, managing, directing, supervising, or financing three or more individuals with the intent to engage in a pattern of criminal profiteering.

Additional Arrests

Other individuals arrested during the operation include:

• Alvin Godette (48): Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine, three counts; Marijuana).
• Dakota Boome (36): Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine).
• Gabriel Brummel (35): Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine).
• Jean Cooper (27): Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine).
• James George (31): Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl and Methamphetamine).
• Alexander Gott (22): Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl).
• Benjamin Imhoff (26): Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine).
• Chace Justice (34): Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl, two counts).
• Christopher Mayse (35): Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine).
• Jana Quinton (45): Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl).

Authorities indicate that more arrests are anticipated as the investigation continues.

Note: All Suspects are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law. — You can view their booking records HERE for the day of January 7th, 2025.

Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis

While the WGDTF typically focuses on mid-to-upper-level drug dealers, this investigation specifically targeted street-level dealers due to the critical nature of the fentanyl crisis.

“Fentanyl is deadly and devastating,” said Lt. Keith Linderman of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, a leader in the WGDTF. “Protecting our community from those who sell and profit from fentanyl means deploying vital resources like our Gang and Drug Task Force.”

The Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force comprises investigators from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the Bellingham Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Bellingham Regional Office also assisted in the investigation.

Community Resources

For information on overdose prevention and treatment resources in Whatcom County, visit WhatcomOverdosePrevention.org.

NOTE: All suspects are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law.