United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Kent, Washington man, a Seattle, Washington man, and a Portland, Oregon man, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Obtain Controlled Substances by Fraud.
Hakeem Mohamed, age 22, Zekki Kemal, age 23, and Warsame Jama, age 30, were indicted on October 5, 2021. Jama appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on December 14, 2021, Kemal appeared before Judge Duffy on January 4, 2022, and Mohamed appeared before Judge Duffy on February 4, 2022. They all pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to four years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, one year of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that beginning at a date unknown and continuing to on or about December 22, 2020, Mohamed, Kemal, and Jama knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with others to acquire and obtain possession of promethazine with codeine syrup, which is a Schedule V controlled substance, as well as oxycodone, which is a Schedule II controlled substance. They obtained those by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, and subterfuge.
The charge is merely an accusation and Mohamed, Kemal, and Jama are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Brookings Police Department, Division of Criminal Investigation, Minot Police Department, Pierre Police Department, Vermillion Police Department, and the Worthington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Mohamed was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. Kemal and Jama were released on bond. A trial date has been set for April 12, 2022.
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