Cocaine-Ring Busted; Five Men Arrested

SEATTLE - The Drug Enforcement Administration and Seattle Police arrested five men and seized about 3.3 pounds of cocaine powder in a series of raids early yesterday in the Central Area and South King County.

The cocaine powder and more than $33,000 in cash were seized from a storage locker in the 1800 block of 12th Avenue South, said Thomas O'Brien, DEA spokesman.

Arrested and charged were three Seattle men: Charles Snipes, 54, who was in charge of the storage locker; his nephew, Curtis Snipes, 25; and Jackie Williams, 28. Also arrested were Kelly Jefferson, 28, of Des Moines and Donald Vinson, 26, of Skyway.

O'Brien alleges that the suspects worked for the largest crack-cocaine distributor in the Central Area. Seven search warrants also were served yesterday, most of them at the homes of the men arrested. Authorities also seized an AK-47 assault rifle, another rifle, a shotgun, two handguns, a computer, business records, a four-wheel-drive vehicle and a luxury car.

The arrested men are all charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and were arraigned yesterday afternoon before a federal magistrate.