District of Columbia

WASHINGTON -- Sequan Collier, 29, a previously convicted felon residing in the District, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 29 months in federal prison in connection with his illegal possession of a loaded Glock pistol when police encountered him parked illegally with two additional armed men while he was on supervised release for a previous firearms offense, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Collier pleaded guilty on June 29 before Judge Timothy J. Kelly to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 29‑month prison term, Judge Kelly ordered Collier to serve three years of supervised release.  

According to court documents, on March 16, 2025, at approximately 1:42 a.m., officers with the Metropolitan Police Department approached a black Audi A6 illegally parked in a no parking zone in the Logan Circle neighborhood. Collier was in the driver’s seat, accompanied by three other men, two of whom were also armed.  

After Collier stepped out of the vehicle, officers recovered a Glock Model 29, 10mm handgun from his waistband. The firearm was loaded with 15 rounds—14 in the magazine and one in the chamber.  

At the time, Collier had three prior felony convictions in D.C. Superior Court for offenses punishable by more than one year of imprisonment and was on supervised release for a 2023 firearms conviction involving another loaded Glock recovered from his pants. Collier had served 22 months in prison for that offense yet reoffended just six weeks after his release. As a convicted felon, Collier was prohibited from possessing any firearm. 

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Naseef under the president’s Make DC Safe and Beautiful Again initiative. The initiative targets violent crime by prioritizing federal prosecution of armed repeat offenders and removing illegal firearms from District neighborhoods. 

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WASHINGTON — Transnational criminal scam networks operating from West Africa suffered major disruptions last week during a coordinated international “Joint Disruption Week,” an effort that produced arrests, seizures, and the largest-ever takedown of fraudulent social media accounts linked to scam centers in the region, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

“Transnational fraud demands a transnational response,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia, founder of the Scam Center Strike Force. “I have partnered with the NCA and the Crown Prosecutor for England and Wales to push forward cases on both sides of the Atlantic; criminals are not hindered by borders and neither are we. We will deploy our team wherever in the world transnational criminals target innocent victims.” 

“Criminals beware: Law enforcement from around the world are working together, and with private industry, to find you, stop your schemes, and bring you to justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division’s Cyber-Enabled Scam Initiative (CSI) was built for this brand of collaboration. The millions of bogus social media accounts taken down and dozens of arrests that took place as part of Joint Disruption Week are just the beginning. I want to thank the United Kingdom (UK)’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and its Director General, Graeme Biggar, for hosting this effort, as well as everyone who participated. I am especially grateful to the courageous law enforcement officers in Ghana and Nigeria who put themselves in harm’s way to seize evidence and arrest the criminals who prey on innocent people.” 

The “Joint Disruption Week” events mark the first coordinated effort focused specifically on West Africa, underscoring the growing global commitment to dismantling increasingly sophisticated transnational scam networks. 

The operation included members of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Scam Center Strike Force under the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), the UK’s NCA, the Nigerian Joint Case Team on Cybercrimes, the Nigeria Police Force - National Cybercrime Center, Ghanaian Cyber Security Authority, and private sector partners. 

Additional participants included law enforcement agencies from Australia, Canada, Ghana, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, along with INTERPOL and additional cybercrime units. Several tech giants also played a key role. The large-scale effort was hosted by the UK NCA in London. 

“Thanks to brilliant partnership with the Department of Justice and the private sector, across multiple African countries, we arrested dozens of criminal actors, seized hundreds of devices, identified at least $11 million in potentially freezable funds, and truly saved lives,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This is what happens when law enforcement executes with precision across the interagency. We are demolishing Scam Centers across the globe and crushing a criminal industry preying on American citizens.” 

“Fraud is a global problem and it takes partnership working across international boundaries to tackle it,” said Nick Sharp, Deputy Director of Fraud at the NCA. “Hosting such a rich and dedicated team of law enforcement and technology companies at NCA’s headquarters enabled us to utilize the power of partnerships and strike back at a significant set of criminals who inflict misery on thousands of victims of fraud. Fraudsters can operate from anywhere and will target victims both domestically and globally. The NCA will continue to work with international and private sector partners to tackle fraudsters working upstream, overseas and online. Collaborating in this way sends a clear signal to criminals that the combined capabilities of law enforcement and industry means that we will relentlessly pursue them and the infrastructure they rely on no matter where they operate.” 

During the week beginning Oct. 6, investigators and industry partners exchanged real-time intelligence across jurisdictions, enabling rapid identification and disruption of scam centers in Nigeria, Ghana, and other African countries. Many of the targeted operations were tied to schemes victimizing individuals in the United States, UK, and other countries around the world. 

Several private industry partners, including Meta, Adobe, Binance, Coinbase, Cyjax, Elliptic, Chainalysis, Flashpoint, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Silent Push, Starlink and TRM Labs collaborated with international law enforcement in the event, and voluntarily took action on their own networks to disrupt scammers using their platforms to perpetrate fraud. These companies reported to the Department that they “removed more than 3.7 million accounts, Pages and Groups targeting people in the U.S., UK and beyond, and shared leads on over 30 suspected scam centers with law enforcement, resulting in dozens of arrests, the rescue of trafficking victims, and cryptocurrency seizures. In total over $11 million dollars in potential freezable funds were identified by the private sector partners. Meta played a key role in coordinating the event and encouraging broad private sector participation to maximize scam compound disruption. 

Among the key accomplishments: 

A consortium of international law enforcement agencies made 28 arrests of individuals tied to the criminal scam operations, including:   

• In Ghana, in the Accra suburb of Sasaabi, authorities arrested 19 individuals and seized 303 electronic devices. In addition, authorities identified 117 victims of human trafficking that are now pending repatriation to Nigeria. An additional 89 victims of the scam were identified with an approximate loss of $8.3 million. During the last week of September alone, authorities made scores of arrests at six locations, identified 34 trafficking victims, and seized 129 electronic devices. The Ghana operation was led by the Ghana Cyber Security Authority, Ghana Police Service Criminal Investigation Department, National Security Service, with support from the NCA, FBI, and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. 

   

• In Nigeria, authorities arrested nine individuals during the enforcement period, and 53 electronic devices. 

• The disrupted schemes included law enforcement impersonation scams, digital “arrest” extortion schemes, cryptocurrency investment fraud (also known as “pig butchering”), and a variety of other online fraud operations targeting global victims. 

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), investment scams were reported 72,984 times in 2025, with cryptocurrency investment fraud comprising 72 percent of that category. Reported losses from these scams rose from $3.96 billion in 2023 to $5.8 billion in 2024. Reported losses for investment scams with a cryptocurrency nexus rose 24 percent in 2025 to over $7.2 billion, according to IC3’s released 2025 annual report. Those figures, based largely on victim reports, are believed to significantly underrepresent actual losses, as many victims do not report to law enforcement. According to one government report, a conservative estimate of the annual value of funds stolen by scam syndicates worldwide approached $64 billion as of the end of 2023. 

Strengthening Accountability for Transnational Scam Operations

Criminal scam centers operating in West Africa mirror those uncovered in Southeast Asia — highly organized enterprises that recruit workers, train them in social engineering, and deploy multi‑platform fraud campaigns targeting global victims. While technology companies can significantly disrupt online infrastructure used to perpetuate these schemes, true accountability requires sustained law enforcement action against the individuals and organizations behind them. 

The FBI, The Scam Center Strike Force, and its international partners remain committed to advancing this model of public‑private collaboration and expanding global efforts to dismantle criminal networks responsible for online fraud. 

For more information about the Scam Center Strike Force click here. 

Individuals found at Ghana scam center.

Scam center in Ghana.

U.S. Federal agencies working at NCA in London.

Electronic devices seized in Ghana.

Electronic Devices Seized in Ghana 

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WASHINGTON -- Ashley Gause, 33, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 140 months in federal prison for her role as a co-leader of a violent multi-state robbery crew that targeted more than a dozen pharmacies and cellphone stores in the District, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“Ashley Gause and her co-conspirators participated in an extended campaign of violence that caused terror without any regard for their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “They treated these pharmacies and cellphone stores as their own personal cash machines, garnering $300,000 in ill-gotten proceeds and prescription drugs, and leaving the store employees scarred for life.” 

Gause, aka “Cray,” was found guilty by a federal jury on Oct. 28, 2025, after a six-week trial, of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery), conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances from the pharmacy robberies, and eight individual counts of Hobbs Act Robbery. 

In addition to the 140-month prison term, Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered Gause to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 235-month prison sentence.  

Joining in the announcement were FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office, and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

According to court documents, from May 9, 2020, through May 26, 2021, Gause and her co-conspirators targeted pharmacies and cellular retail stores in the mid-Atlantic region, seeking to rob the businesses of prescription drugs and cellphones that they could then resell in the District. 

Many of these offenses involved crew members brandishing and pointing a firearm at the victims. Gause was convicted of five such offenses. 

Multiple co-defendants have been sentenced, or are awaiting trial, for their roles in a number of the robberies. 

D’Marrell Mitchell, 36, of the District, was sentenced to 192 months in prison after he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and nine individual counts of Hobbs Act Robbery. 

Floyd Neal, 32, of the District, was sentenced to 157 months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of interstate commerce by robbery and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. 

Ashawntea Henderson, 33, of the District, was sentenced to 57 months in prison after pleading guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting. 

Glenn Dolford, 32, of the District, who pleaded guilty to one count of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, was sentenced to 38 months to be served concurrent with a 42-month sentence out of DC Superior Court Case for an aggregate term of 80 months. Dolford is also serving a 22-year sentence for murder.  

Terrance Barnham, 36, of the District, was sentenced to 78 months in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, and one count of carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. 

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office with valuable assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department, Alexandria Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department, Henrico County Police Division, Laurel Police Department, Montgomery County Police Department, Neptune Township N.J. Police Department, and Prince George’s County Police Department.  

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy.  

On May 5, 2021, Gause had this photo on her cellphone of a black handgun with a yellow “switch.”  This firearm/switch is consistent with the one that a co-defendant used during three robberies Maryland. 

Surveillance image captured Nov. 6, 2020, during the crew’s robbery of a T-Mobile store on D Street, Southeast Washington D.C.   

Surveillance cameras captured this image on June 9, 2020, during the crew’s robbery of a T-Mobile in College Park, Maryland.  

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WASHINGTON – Antonio Hawley, 23, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in D.C. Superior Court for the October 2021 shooting death of 26-year-old Aaron Wiggins on the sports field of Watkins Elementary School, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“A flag football rivalry ended in murder. Antonio Hawley fired 17 shots at Aaron Wiggins and killed him,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to senseless violence. Today’s sentence cannot undo that loss, but it sends a clear message: if you take a life through violence, you will face serious consequences.” 

Hawley was found guilty on February 3, 2026, of one count of first-degree murder while armed, one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. Hawley was 18 years old at the time of the shooting. The Honorable Judge Danya Dayson ordered him to 32 years of incarceration to be followed by five years of supervised release. 

According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 9:45 p.m. on October 6, 2021, Hawley and Wiggins were playing against each other in a flag football scrimmage on the sports field of Watkins Elementary School when the field lights cut off. The two teams decided to finish one last play, and Wiggins caught the winning touchdown, ending the game. Throughout the game, there was continued trash talk between Wiggins and members of Hawley’s team, intensifying after that final play. When members of both flag football teams started to gather their belongings to leave the field, Hawley retrieved a handgun from a teammate’s bag and approached Wiggins, firing at him 17 times and hitting the victim 13 times. Wiggins died at the scene.   

Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jin Park and Mark Levy, who prosecuted the case.   

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Prasan Nepal, 21, also known by the online moniker “Trippy,” of High Point, North Carolina, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child. 

“This is the latest victory in the FBI’s work with partners to dismantle the violent 764 network,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Prasan Nepal, a leader of 764, pleaded guilty for his role in exploiting juveniles - not only breaking the law himself but recruiting others to participate in the heinous conduct targeting kids online through sexual assault, pornography, animal crushing, and more. Dismantling 764 and their online network has been a top priority for this FBI, with a nearly 500% increase in 764 related arrests last year with our state and local partners. We are finding these criminal actors all over the country no matter where they operate. Let there be no doubt that the FBI and our partners will use all our resources to protect children and bring to justice those who commit acts of terrible abuse. “

“Nepal used his leadership role within 764 to orchestrate the systematic exploitation, torture, and psychological destruction of children for the twisted satisfaction of an online network built on cruelty and chaos,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “He directed unspeakable crimes and then treated the suffering of the group’s victims as currency to be traded among his co-conspirators. We will not rest until every member of this network, and others like it, are held accountable.”

“This case exposes a world where cruelty is currency, violence is entertainment, and children are treated as targets in a game of domination and control,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “What Nepal and his co‑conspirators built was not just a criminal operation, it was a deliberate campaign to corrupt the vulnerable and dismantle the guardrails of civilized society. Yesterday’s plea is a victory for every child they sought to harm, and a warning to anyone who believes they can hide behind an encrypted screen: we will find you, and we will stop you.” 

Nepal operated as a senior leader within “764,” a nihilistic violent extremist network that, according to court documents, engaged in a wide range of criminal conduct across the United States and abroad — including coordinated efforts to exploit minors, extort vulnerable victims, and inflict psychological harm as part of an organized ideology promoting chaos and societal destabilization. 

According to court documents, Nepal and co‑defendant Leonidas Varagiannis, known as “War,” served as core leaders of 764 and its inner subgroup, 764 Inferno.  

From approximately 2021 through 2025, Nepal and others used encrypted platforms to coordinate the exploitation of minors worldwide. They directed members, enforced “rules,” managed recruitment, and oversaw the production and circulation of materials used to manipulate and coerce victims. 

Membership in 764 required prospective recruits to produce “content” that furthered the group’s extremist and abusive aims. Individuals who complied gained status; those who did not were excluded. Nepal and Varagiannis maintained strict control over membership, monitored activity, and issued instructions designed to expand the network’s reach and increase the volume of exploitative material. 

Court documents detail the involvement of co‑conspirators operating inside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. One D.C.-based individual allegedly stored network material on digital devices within the District and participated in conduct aimed at coercing minor victims. Other U.S.-based co‑conspirators engaged in coordinated online extortion schemes that targeted minors in multiple states and foreign jurisdictions. 

The stored content included images of the words “764 Kills” written in red on a wall and a video of 15-year-old minor victim standing topless with her breasts exposed, talking to someone on a live chat while she poured bleach on her arm and set her arm on fire. 

Federal investigators have identified more than a dozen active co‑conspirators associated with Nepal and Varagiannis, many of whom operated under aliases and interacted regularly in encrypted group channels. Their activities reflected an organized, hierarchical structure designed to recruit vulnerable victims, generate exploitative material, and cultivate notoriety within the network. 

764 and 764 Inferno were built on a shared extremist ideology that embraced social collapse and celebrated violence. Members used encrypted applications to: 

• Identify vulnerable minors online, 
• Manipulate victims into compliance, 
• Coerce individuals using threats and intimidation, 
• Distribute extremist and exploitative content, and 
•  Promote members based on the severity of material they helped generate.

The defendants and their co-conspirators around the world used the Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and other gore and violent material to create digital “Lorebooks,” which were used as digital currency within the 764 network, traded, archived in encrypted “vaults,” and used as a means to recruit new members or maintain status within the network.  

The defendants instructed other members in grooming tactics and set content production expectations for new recruits. In multiple instances, defendants threatened and caused their victims to engage in self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. 

According to court documents, the defendants exploited at least eight minor victims across multiple jurisdictions, with some content traced back to children as young as 13 years-old. The network’s activities spanned from late 2020 through early 2025. 

Nepal joined 764 in or around early 2021, and worked with others known and unknown, including Individual 1, to establish the group. After Individual 1’s arrest on or about Aug. 25, 2021, Nepal emerged as a leader of 764 and remained in that position through April 2025.  

In his capacity as a member and leader of 764, Nepal used several online monikers, including, “Leather Jacket,” “Rebirth,” “Indras Jester,” and “KingKrampus,” but he was most widely known in 764 Inferno as “Trippy.” 

Nepal was arrested in 2025 and charged alongside Varagiannis as part of a sweeping international investigation involving the District of Columbia, federal field offices across the United States, and law enforcement authorities abroad. Yesterday’s plea represents one of the most significant developments yet in dismantling 764’s leadership structure. 

Variagiannis is currently being held at Grevena Prison in northern Greece and is expected to have a trial in the next six months on charges related to child pornography and participation in a criminal organization. 

Nepal faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Sentencing is set for March 5, 2027.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office with significant assistance from the FBI New York Field Office, FBI Charlotte Field Office, and international partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina also provided invaluable assistance. 

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Shinskie and Janani Iyengar for the District of Columbia. 

The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat of NVE networks like 764 that operate within the United States and around the globe. NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, using social media platforms to share CSAM and gore material, and groom victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims are often extorted, coerced, compelled, and blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, including self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/parents-and-caregivers-protecting-your-kids and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. 

WASHINGTON – Maurice Spears, 34, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a total of 65 years and 180 days in prison for the sexual abuse of two different women in April and July 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“Two victims. Eight days of violence, threats, and relentless sexual abuse. Today, the court delivered justice,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Maurice Spears will spend more than 65 years in prison — a consequence that reflects the fear he inflicted and the lives he tried to destroy. This sentence ensures he will never again have the chance to prey on another person in our community.” 

Spears was found guilty by a Superior Court jury of six counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of felony threats, and one count of misdemeanor sexual abuse on May 14, 2026. Superior Court Judge Jason Park ordered the prison term to be followed by a lifetime supervised release. The defendant must also register as a sex offender. 

According to the governments evidence, on April 15, 2024, Spears went on a single date with the first victim. After the date, they ended up back in the defendant’s storage unit, where he was living. While inside the storage unit, Spears threatened to kill the victim and her children if she left and told her that he planned to force her into prostitution. He also showed her a fake police badge and told her that he had law enforcement in his pocket. The defendant forced the victim to spend the next three days with him and sexually assaulted the victim twice inside his storage unit. He later took her to Virginia and kept her in a motel room. She was eventually rescued by her family and taken to the hospital.   

On July 26, 2024, the second victim met Spears when they were both at a services provider for homeless individuals. The defendant promised to help the victim get some shoes. The victim ran into Spears the next day and he started to follow her around and refused to leave her tent when she asked him to. Eventually Spears started threatening her, telling her that he was connected to law enforcement and that he had people who would harm her if he told them to. The defendant spent the next five days repeatedly sexually assaulting her and refused to let her out of his sight. The victim was eventually able to call 911 and escape from the defendant.   

Spears was arrested on September 9, 2024, and has been in custody since.  

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Roessler and Amanda Swanson, who prosecuted the case. 

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WASHINGTON – Darae Vaughn, 31, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 96 months in federal prison in connection with his role in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and crack cocaine in Northeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“Darae Vaughn trafficked fentanyl and crack cocaine while armed, putting lives at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Now he’s going to prison for eight years. If you push deadly drugs into our community while armed, you will be held accountable. You will go to prison.” 

Vaughn, aka “Rae,” pleaded guilty June 30, 2026, before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, to possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and to distribution and possession of 10 grams or more of fentanyl.  In addition to the 96-month prison term, Judge McFadden ordered Vaughn to serve five years of supervised release.  

According to court documents, in March 2025 the FBI Safe Streets Task Force began an investigation into reports of narcotics trafficking on the 2000 block of 19th Place SE, particularly counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills.  

The investigation revealed that from at least April 2025 through September 2025, during nine recorded transactions, Vaughn sold hundreds of fentanyl pills, and quantities of crack cocaine, carfentanyl, and methamphetamine while he was armed with a Glock 43x pistol.  

In January 2025, codefendant Charles Dixon and Vaughn exchanged text messages discussing pills that Vaughn had supplied to Dixon. Dixon argued with Vaughn about how many pills Vaughn owed him. On April 8, 2025, Dixon participated in the sale of 96 fentanyl pills. On July 3, 2025, Dixon was involved in the sale of 163 fentanyl pills.  

Dixon was sentenced on October 6 to 33 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy.  

This investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Iris McCranie and Kate Naseef. 

This case is part of the Department of Justice’s broader efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and drug related violence in the District of Columbia. Fentanyl remains one of the deadliest substances circulating in the illegal drug supply, and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl pose extreme risks to unwitting users and the community at large.  

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WASHINGTON – Prasan Nepal, 21, also known by the online moniker “Trippy,” pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to Conspiracy to Commit Sexual Exploitation of a Child, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Nepal, of High Point, North Carolina, entered his plea in the District of Columbia before the Honorable Reggie B. Walton and now faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison. Judge Walton scheduled sentencing for March 5, 2027. 

“This case exposes a world where cruelty is currency, violence is entertainment, and children are treated as targets in a game of domination and control,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “What Nepal and his co‑conspirators built was not just a criminal operation, it was a deliberate campaign to corrupt the vulnerable and dismantle the guardrails of civilized society. Today’s plea is a victory for every child they sought to harm, and a warning to anyone who believes they can hide behind an encrypted screen: we will find you, and we will stop you.” 

Nepal operated as a senior leader within “764,” a nihilistic violent extremist network that, according to court documents, engaged in a wide range of criminal conduct across the United States and abroad — including coordinated efforts to exploit minors, extort vulnerable victims, and inflict psychological harm as part of an organized ideology promoting chaos and societal destabilization. 

According to court documents and the statement of offense, Nepal and co‑defendant Leonidas Varagiannis, known as “War,” served as core leaders of 764 and its inner subgroup, 764 Inferno.  

From approximately 2021 through 2025, Nepal and others used encrypted platforms to coordinate the exploitation of minors worldwide. They directed members, enforced “rules,” managed recruitment, and oversaw the production and circulation of materials used to manipulate and coerce victims. 

Membership in 764 required prospective recruits to produce “content” that furthered the group’s extremist and abusive aims. Individuals who complied gained status; those who did not were excluded. Nepal and Varagiannis maintained strict control over membership, monitored activity, and issued instructions designed to expand the network’s reach and increase the volume of exploitative material. 

Court documents detail the involvement of co‑conspirators operating inside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. One D.C.-based individual allegedly stored network material on digital devices within the District and participated in conduct aimed at coercing minor victims. Other U.S.-based co‑conspirators engaged in coordinated online extortion schemes that targeted minors in multiple states and foreign jurisdictions. 

The stored content included images of the words “764 Kills” written in red on a wall and a video of 15-year-old minor victim standing topless with her breasts exposed, talking to someone on a live chat while she poured bleach on her arm and set her arm on fire. 

Federal investigators have identified more than a dozen active co‑conspirators associated with Nepal and Varagiannis, many of whom operated under aliases and interacted regularly in encrypted group channels. Their activities reflected an organized, hierarchical structure designed to recruit vulnerable victims, generate exploitative material, and cultivate notoriety within the network. 

764 and 764 Inferno were built on a shared extremist ideology that embraced social collapse and celebrated violence. Members used encrypted applications to: 

• Identify vulnerable minors online 
• Manipulate victims into compliance 
• Coerce individuals using threats and intimidation 
• Distribute extremist and exploitative content 
• Promote members based on the severity of material they helped generate 

The defendants and their co-conspirators around the world used the Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and other gore and violent material to create digital “Lorebooks,” which were used as digital currency within the 764 network, traded, archived in encrypted “vaults,” and used as a means to recruit new members or maintain status within the network.  

The defendants instructed other members in grooming tactics and set content production expectations for new recruits. In multiple instances, defendants threatened and caused their victims to engage in self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. 

Also, according to court papers, the defendants exploited at least eight minor victims across multiple jurisdictions, with some content traced back to children as young as 13 years old. The network’s activities spanned from late 2020 through early 2025. 

Nepal joined 764 in or around early 2021, and worked with others known and unknown, including Individual 1, to establish the group. After Individual 1’s arrest on or about August 25, 2021, Nepal emerged as a leader of 764 and remained in that position through April 2025.  

In his capacity as a member and leader of 764, Nepal used several online monikers, including, “Leather Jacket,” “Rebirth,” “Indras Jester,” and “KingKrampus,” but he was most widely known in 764 Inferno as “Trippy.” 

Nepal was arrested in 2025 and charged alongside Varagiannis as part of a sweeping international investigation involving the District of Columbia, federal field offices across the United States, and law enforcement authorities abroad. Today’s plea represents one of the most significant developments yet in dismantling 764’s leadership structure. 

Variagiannis is currently being held at Grevena Prison in northern Greece and is expected to have a trial in the next six months on charges related to child pornography and participation in a criminal organization. 

This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office with significant assistance from the FBI New York Field Office, FBI Charlotte Field Office, and international partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina also provided invaluable assistance. 

It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Shinskie and Janani Iyengar for the District of Columbia. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. 

A guide instructed members on “grooming” victims into producing content for 764 and advised members to target particularly vulnerable victims, such as individuals with depression or mental illness. 

The guide also provided instructions on “Extortion,” and advised prospective 764 members to manipulate girls and to groom them into providing personal information that could then be used to force them to create “blood content.” 

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WASHINGTON – Abdul Fields, 30, a previously convicted felon residing in the District, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 180 months in federal prison in connection with a March 2025 street shooting and a separate November 2025 incident in which he possessed a loaded ghost gun, both while he was on supervised release for a prior manslaughter conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“Despite multiple prior convictions, Abdul Fields persistently and dangerously armed himself, endangered the community, and demonstrated a clear disregard for the law,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his conduct and our commitment to protecting the residents of the District from violent gun offenders.” 

Fields pleaded guilty on June 3, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon to assault with a dangerous weapon and to possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, both in violation of D.C. Code, as well as unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, a federal offense. In addition to the 180‑month prison term, Judge Leon ordered Fields to serve three years of supervised release.  

According to court documents, Fields carried out two illegal firearms offenses within six months while he was on supervised release for a prior voluntary manslaughter conviction.  

On March 24, 2025, about 12:26 a.m., Fields was in the crosswalk at the busy intersection of New York Avenue and North Capitol Street NW when he pulled out a pistol and fired it at the driver’s side of a passing vehicle. ShotSpotter detected the gunfire, and CCTV footage captured him pulling the firearm from his coat pocket and discharging a round as the vehicle made a routine right turn.  

Ninety seconds later, Fields entered the nearby Tyler House Apartments, where he was living under GPS monitoring. Police recovered a nine-millimeter casing in the middle of the crosswalk and later linked it, through NIBIN analysis, to a ghost gun found in Fields’ residence during the execution of a search warrant.  

On November 19, 2025, MPD officers arrested Fields on an outstanding warrant for simple assault after spotting him outside Tyler House Apartments. During a search incident to arrest, officers recovered a loaded ghost gun – an untraceable, privately manufactured firearm without a serial number -- tucked into his waistband.  

Fields attempted to reach for the gun, struggled with officers, and headbutted one of them during the encounter. Moments after the gun was recovered, Fields told officers, referencing the recovery of the firearm, “S**t I’ll be back. That s**t ain’t nothing.” When the officer responded, “You’re a felon too,” Fields replied, “I don’t give a f**k. Eat my d**k…I’m superman.” 

The firearm, which lacked a serial number, was loaded with one round in the chamber and 11 additional rounds in the magazine.  

Fields’ convictions in this case mark at least his third and fourth gun related offenses since 2013. His criminal history includes a 2013 armed robbery and the 2014 killing of Donta Thrower behind Tyler House Apartments, for which he served more than eight years in prison. After his release in February 2024, Fields repeatedly violated supervision and continued to arm himself with illegal firearms. 

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Washington Field Division.  

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Travis Wolf.   

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful supports President Trump's Executive Order that cracks down on gun violence, prioritizes federal firearms violations, pursues tougher penalties, and seeks detention for federal firearms violators.    

Evidence photo of the ‘ghost gun’ discovered on Fields’ person on November 19, 2025 

A surveillance camera captured an image of Fields shooting at a passing car at the intersection of New York Ave. and North Capital Street NW. 

In this surveillance photo, Fields (circled) looks back at the vehicle prior to firing the shot 

Police found the ghost gun from the shooting inside a shoe box in one of the apartment’s bedrooms. 

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WASHINGTON – Michael Sanders, 32, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, on charges related to the shooting death of 30-year-old Youness Zarouaki, during an attempted robbery in February 2021 in Northwest, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

Sanders was found guilty of first-degree felony murder while armed, conspiracy to commit robbery while armed, attempted robbery while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence before Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan. A sentencing date will be scheduled on a later date. The jury was unable to reach a verdict regarding co-defendant Darnell Resper, 33 (2024 CF1 003740). 

According to the government’s evidence, on February 18, 2021, at approximately 3:13 p.m., 1060 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, served as a location for marijuana parties. These parties were advertised on Instagram and by word of mouth. Surveillance footage captured a black Honda Accord driving in the area. A third co-defendant had driven the two men to the location for the marijuana pop-up shop.  Shortly after entering the pop-up shop, one of the defendants ordered a security guard to the ground at gunpoint and the other suspect brandished his firearm and demanded that the occupants of the house give him “the stuff,” i.e., drugs and cash. Gunshots rang out and both Sanders and Resper fled the area: one jumped over the backyard rear fence, and another ran back out the front entry gate on Thomas Jefferson Street.  Surveillance footage captured an individual identified as Michael Sanders fleeing the area but did not capture Darnell Resper. 

MPD officers were called to the scene for the report of a shooting. Upon arriving, they located Mr. Youness Zarouaki, on the sidewalk in front of the building, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the neck. Mr. Zarouaki succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes later.   

Sanders was arrested on September 14, 2023. Resper was arrested on April 22, 2024. Both defendants have been in custody since. 

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Natalie Hynum and Lauren Miller. 

2023 CF1 006587 

WASHINGTON – A two-count Indictment was unsealed yesterday in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia charging Moussa Konte, 32, a Senegalese citizen, with unlawful possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and unlawful possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“This defendant, Moussa Konte, who was in this country illegally, turned a one‑bedroom apartment into a drug warehouse stocked with fentanyl, cocaine, cash, money counters and ammo, creating a direct threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He is now in custody. This case demonstrates how traffickers can operate quietly and boldly in our own neighborhoods. But they need to understand this: the District is not open for their business. We will find them, shut them down, and take their profits off the table.” 

Konte, a resident of the District, was ordered to be detained following a hearing today before Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh.  

According to a previously filed criminal complaint, Konte participated in a FaceTime call on June 23 during which he displayed kilogram-sized quantities of suspected narcotics. 

On August 25, 2026, about 6 a.m., law enforcement executed a search warrant at Konte’s one bedroom apartment and recovered three bags of blue pills stamped with “M30” weighing  739.37 grams suspected of containing fentanyl, a heat-sealed bag containing a pressed brick of white powder weighing 513.57 grams suspected of containing cocaine, and two plastic baggies containing pressed and loose white powder weighing about 420.65 grams suspected of containing cocaine. Konte subsequently was arrested.  

Other items seized from Konte’s apartment included:  

• Approximately three pounds of marijuana. 

• A vacuum sealer. 

• A digital scale covered in white powder residue. 

• Approximately $8,000 cash. 

• A money counter. 

• A kilogram press used to pack powdered substances 

• Two handgun magazines, one of which was extended. 

• 16 rounds of ammunition. 

This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, the Montgomery County Police Department, with valuable assistance from the United States Customs and Border Patrol. 

This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. 

The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.  

The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Washington D.C. comprises agents and officers from numerous federal agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

Law enforcement recovered three baggies of blue pills believed to contain fentanyl at the apartment. 

Law enforcement recovered nearly a kilo of suspected cocaine from the apartment.  

Images of the press used to pack powdered substances recovered from the apartment. 

Law enforcement recovered approximately $8,000 in cash from the apartment. 

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WASHINGTON – Jerrad Anthony Childs, 27, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 72 months in prison in connection with a fentanyl and crack cocaine trafficking operation out of a Southeast Washington apartment that involved seven firearms and body armor, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Child’s apartment was stocked like an arsenal, with seven firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and body armor, all to protect a drug operation that was pumping fentanyl and crack cocaine into our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This office will continue dismantling armed drug‑trafficking networks and holding the people who run them accountable.” 

Childs, aka “heavyglocksosa,” pleaded guilty on April 22, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, crack cocaine and cocaine, and to one count of possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. In addition to the 72-month prison term, Judge AliKhan ordered Childs to serve five years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison sentence of 124 months. 

According to court papers, on Oct. 7, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at an apartment in the 3900 block of 1st Street SE, a residence used by Childs. 

Inside the apartment, law enforcement recovered seven firearms, including several semi-automatic pistols and a rifle with an obliterated serial number, along with 296 rounds of ammunition and tactical body armor. 

Investigators also seized about 168 grams of fentanyl, 40 grams of crack cocaine, and 10 grams of cocaine, along with $18,581.99 in cash. 

Childs admitted that he possessed the drugs with intent to distribute them and that he used and possessed the firearms in furtherance of that drug trafficking. 

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George Eliopoulos of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section. 

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WASHINGTON – Arnold Kevin Dussol, 39, of Leesburg, Virginia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm while hiding in a Northwest storage facility, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 
 
Dussol pleaded guilty before Judge Amy Berman Jackson to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Judge Berman Jackson scheduled sentencing for February 19, 2027. 

According to the government’s evidence, on March 30, 2026, law enforcement responded to reports from a victim stating that Dussol had threatened to kill her current boyfriend and that he possessed a firearm. Officers used location information and access instructions Dussol had sent the victim to locate a secure storage facility on 7th Street NW.  

Inside the storage area, officers found Dussol hiding behind the door of an unlocked locker. He was dressed in all black and wearing a purple satchel consistent with the victim’s description.  

Inside that satchel, investigators recovered a loaded 9mm handgun with one round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine. A subsequent search revealed a small bag containing a white rock substance that field‑tested positive for methamphetamine.  

Dussol has multiple prior felony convictions, including extortion, felony weapon possession, first‑degree assault, and felony drug distribution, and therefore was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition at the time of his arrest.  

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office. 

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Josh Satter and Lauren Ibanez. 

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful supports President Trump’s Executive Order that cracks down on gun violence, prioritizes federal firearms violations, pursues tougher penalties, and seeks detention for federal firearms violators. 

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WASHINGTON — Karon Olufemi Blalock, 32, of Alexandria, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 128 months in federal prison for his role in a transcontinental narcotics trafficking conspiracy that smuggled tens of thousands of fentanyl pills from California to the D.C. area, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Let me be crystal clear: When you flood our communities with a poison as deadly as fentanyl, you are waging war on the people who live here,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This sentence is about accountability, and it is a message to every narcotics trafficker. The days of exploiting our neighborhoods for profit at the cost of human lives are over.” 

Blalock, also known as “Fat Bags,” pleaded guilty on Oct. 16, 2025, before Judge Colleen Kollar‑Kotelly to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. In addition to the 128‑month prison term, Judge Kollar‑Kotelly ordered Blalock to serve five years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 135‑month sentence. Blalock is the 21st defendant to be sentenced in connection with this case. 

According to court documents, from August 2020 through November 9, 2023, Blalock participated in a multi‑kilogram fentanyl trafficking operation that moved counterfeit oxycodone pills from Southern California to metropolitan Washington. 

Blalock traveled dozens of times to Los Angeles to purchase bulk quantities of fentanyl‑laced counterfeit pills and smuggle them back to the District either through luggage and carryon bags or via commercial mail carriers. He coordinated directly with a Los Angeles‑based trafficker and relied on social media accounts to redistribute the dangerous counterfeit pills to D.C. customers. 

For example, Blalock traveled to Los Angeles on Dec. 10, 2022. That same day, the Los Angeles‑based supplier sent a coded text message: “I got you at 50 cents.” Blalock responded by “loving” the message — signaling his agreement to the price of 50 cents per pill. The next day, the supplier texted: “When you tryna link?” Blalock replied: “Hilton Pasadena. Pull up on me.” The two men later completed the transaction. 

Court filings further reveal that Blalock expanded his criminal activities by utilizing SBA-approved bank account credentials and Social Security number in order to submit a falsified tax form claiming $100,000 in fraudulent sole proprietorship earnings. Blalock in turn received two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan disbursements of $20,833 each. Blalock separately obtained $22,224 in pandemic-related unemployment insurance funds, diverting critical public resources intended for legitimate individuals in need. Blalock in turn used these fraudulently-obtained funds in furtherance of his fentanyl trafficking in the District of Columbia. 

Joining in today’s announcement were Special Agent in Charge Cindy M. Marx of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, Postal Inspector in Charge Damon Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito for the U.S. Department of Labor, and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The prosecutions in this case followed a joint investigation by the DEA Washington Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, in partnership with the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). 

The investigation received additional support from the DEA’s Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside Field Divisions, the FBI Washington Field Office, and the Charles County, Maryland, Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was also provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central and Southern Districts of California, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Maryland. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, Solomon S. Eppel, and Iris Y. McCranie of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section. 

DEFENDANT 

LOCATION 

CHARGES/SENTENCE  

Hector David Valdez, 

aka “Curl” 

28 

Santa Fe Springs, California 

Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; 

conspiracy to commit international money laundering. 

Craig Eastman  

22 

Washington, D.C.  

Sentenced Feb. 6, 2025, to 165 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. 

Charles Jeffrey Taylor 

22 

Washington, D.C. 

Sentenced to 98 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Raymond Nava, Jr.  

22 

Bell Gardens,  

California  

Sentenced Sept. 17, 2024, to 14 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Ulises Aldaz 

29 

Bell Gardens, 

California 

Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 95 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Max Alexander Carias Torres 

28 

Bell Gardens, 

California 

Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering. 

Teron Deandre McNeil, aka “Wild Boy” 

36 

Washington, D.C. 

Sentenced Jan. 5, 2026, to 120 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Conspiracy to commit wire fraud. 

Marvin Anthony Bussie, 

aka “Money Marr” 

23 

Washington, D.C.  

Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Marcus Orlando Brown 

30 

Washington, D.C. 

Sentenced Oct. 3, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Columbian Thomas, aka "Cruddy Murda”  

28 

Washington, D.C. 

Sentenced Oct. 22, 2024, to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Wayne Rodell Carr-Maiden 

36 

Washington, D.C. 

Sentenced April 29, 2024, to 45 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Andre Malik Edmond, 

aka “Draco” 

25 

Temple Hills, Maryland 

Sentenced July 22, 2024, to 130 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Treyveon James Johnson, 

aka “Treyski” 

22 

Alexandria, Virginia 

Sentenced Sept. 5, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Karon Olufemi Blalock, 

aka “Fat Bags” 

31 

Alexandria, Virginia 

Sentenced Oct. 6, 2026, to 128 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering. 

Ronte Ricardo Greene, 

aka “Cardiddy” 

30 

Washington, D.C.  

Sentenced July 18, 2025, to 108 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Melvin Edward Allen, Jr., aka “21” 

40 

Washington, D.C. 

Sentenced June 20, 2025, to 75 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Darius Quincy Hodges, 

aka “Brick” 

35 

Glen Allen, Virginia  

Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Lamin Sesay, 

aka “Rock Star” 

29 

Alexandria, Virginia 

Sentenced May 30, 2025, to 110 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Paul Alejandro Felix 

27 

Glendale, 

California  

Sentenced Nov. 12, 2024, to 164 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Omar Arana, 

aka “Frogs” 

28 

Cudahy, 

California 

Sentenced May 2, 2025, to 93 months, for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Edgar Balderas, Jr., aka “Nano” 

28 

San Diego, 

California 

Sentenced May 8, 2025, to 148 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Raul Pacheco Ramirez 

32 

Long Beach, 

California 

Sentenced Nov. 26, 2024, to 95 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Giovani Alejandro Briones 

32 

Victorville, California  

Sentenced Feb. 20, 2025, to 90 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Alfredo Rodriguez Gonzalez 

28 

Rosarito, Mexico 

Sentenced Mar. 6, 2026, to 235 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; 

conspiracy to commit international money laundering. 

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WASHINGTON – Charles Dixon, 47, a previously convicted felon residing in the District, was sentenced today to 33 months in federal prison for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy operating out of Southeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Dixon pleaded guilty on June 30, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. In addition to the 33-month prison term, Judge McFadden ordered Dixon to serve five years of supervised release.  

According to court documents, between October 2024 and September 2025, Dixon worked with co‑defendants to distribute counterfeit M30 oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in the area of the 2000 block of 19th Place SE.  

Dixon supplied the fentanyl pills to his coconspirators for redistribution, including 96 pills used in an April 2025 controlled buy and another 163 pills supplied for a July 2025 purchase. A search of Dixon’s residence in October 2025 yielded additional fentanyl pills and a firearm with an extended magazine.             

Dixon has 10 prior convictions, including at least one prior felony including a 2001 gun offense, according to court filings.  

This case was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Field Office. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Iris Y. McCranie and Kate Naseef of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Division. 

This case is part of the Department of Justice’s broader efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and drug related violence in the District of Columbia. Fentanyl remains one of the deadliest substances circulating in the illegal drug supply, and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl pose extreme risks to unwitting users and the community at large.  

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WASHINGTON – Cierra Charity Lee, 21, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 102 months in federal prison for her role in the brutal kidnapping and armed robbery of two women she lured to a Southeast residence under the promise of a babysitting job, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“This was a calculated ambush engineered to silence a rape victim and bury the truth,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “These defendants used deception, weapons, and terror in an attempt to obstruct justice. Today’s sentence is a reminder that intimidation will never triumph over accountability, and that those who target victims to protect predators will face the full force of the law.”  

Lee pleaded guilty on April 30, 2026, to kidnapping and armed robbery. Her co‑defendants, Robynn Danielle Bynum, 19, and Kayvon Edwards, 22, previously pleaded guilty to the same charges. In addition to the 102-month prison term, Judge Christopher R. Cooper also ordered Leed to serve five years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 168-month prison sentence for Lee. 

According to court documents, on the night of Oct. 20, 2025, two female victims arrived at a residence near Suitland Parkway and Stanton Road SE after Lee offered to hire them for a babysitting job. When the victims entered the home’s basement, co‑defendant Robynn Bynum emerged from a back room and stabbed Victim 1 repeatedly in the back while injuring Victim 2, who attempted to intervene. Lee helped restrain both victims, binding their hands with duct tape and taking their phones, car keys, and other property. 

While the victims bled and remained bound in a bathroom, Lee questioned Victim 1 about a pending rape case against Lee’s boyfriend, co‑defendant Kayvon Edwards, who was then incarcerated in Prince George’s County.  

Through a series of monitored jail calls, investigators determined that Edwards orchestrated the kidnapping and attack in an effort to prevent Victim 1 from testifying. On those calls, Edwards directed Lee to restrain Victim 1, ensure she could not flee, and silence her as a witness. Lee assured Edwards that Victim 1 would drop the charges and not appear in court. 

Lee and Bynum forced the victims into Victim 1’s vehicle, duct-taped their eyes, and attempted to drive them out of the District, telling them they would be abandoned in Pennsylvania to prevent their appearance in court. After striking something and flattening a tire, Lee and Bynum fled the scene, leaving the victims bound and injured in the car. Eventually, the victims freed themselves and sought help. 

MPD officers found the victim’s car parked in the 3200 block of M St. and saw blood stains and pieces of duct tape on the back seat. They also noticed that the front passenger tire was flat. 

Emergency responders transported both victims to GW Hospital, where Victim 1 was treated for multiple stab wounds requiring trauma‑level care. Victim 2 was treated for lacerations to her wrist and elbow. 

On November 5, 2025, police arrested all three defendants. Upon a review of Lee’s phone, law enforcement found that the device’s web history contained the following searches: 

• October 7, 2025, at 2:48:31 p.m.: in dc how long can you get for kidnapping  

• October 7, 2025, at 2:48:32 p.m.: dc kidnapping cases  

• October 21, 2025, at 1:54:21 a.m.: how much can you get for kidnapping in dc  

• October 21, 2025, at 7:49:14 a.m.: md case search  

• October 21, 2025, at 8:10:26 a.m.: how much time can you get for aggravated assault  

• October 21, 2025, at 11:30:26 a.m.: what does concluded held mean in court  

• October 22, 2025, at 12:47:10 a.m.: how to see if you got a warrant 

Bynum is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 21, 2027. Sentencing for Edwards is pending. 

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter. 

  Message from defendant Bynum to Victim 1 

Lee’s text exchange with Victim 1 offering a “baby sitting” job. 

Surveillance photo shows Lee and Bynum leading the victims to a car following the stabbings. 
 

In this photo, the duct tape (circled in red) police found in the abandoned car. 

Emergency workers attend to Victim 1 who was bleeding from the four stab wounds in her back. 

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WASHINGTON – Two members of MS-13, a violent transnational criminal organization, were found guilty on Friday in U.S. District Court for conspiring to participate in racketeering activity, including murder and other charges stemming from their roles in killings and drug trafficking in the Washington, D.C. area, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“These two MS-13 leaders ran a violent criminal enterprise fueled by murder, violence, and drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “One of these defendants even ordered  hits from inside a prison in El Salvador. By the time these criminals get out of prison, they’ll be too old to think about murder and mayhem.” 

Moises Humberto Rivera-Luna, 56, of El Salvador, and Tokiro Rodas-Ramirez, 44,  a dual citizen of Honduras and El Salvador, had been extradited to the United States to face these charges. Rivera-Luna was found guilty of RICO conspiracy, including murder and drug trafficking. Rodas-Ramirez was found guilty of RICO conspiracy, including murder and drug trafficking, as well as discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement of the verdict were Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. Acting Special Agent in Charge Kai Wah Chan, and Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

“This conviction marks the conclusion of a long, arduous journey towards justice. Rivera-Luna and Rodas-Ramirez have finally been found guilty of running a violent enterprise that committed horrific crimes in our communities. From murder to drug trafficking, their chapter of MS-13 terrorized innocent residents throughout the District. HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners used their skills, resources, and authorities to work to bring them to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kai Wah Chan of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C.. “HSI leverages our international footprint to dismantle transnational criminal organizations at home and abroad to keep our communities safe.” 

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, MS-13 operates in the United States and Central America. The gang engages in racketeering activity, including murder, narcotics distribution, extortion, robberies, obstruction of justice, and other crimes. The gang has numerous rules. The primary rules are (1)  kill rival gang members on sight, and  (2) do not cooperate with law enforcement.  

Rivera-Luna, aka “Viejo Santos,” was an MS-13 leader in prison in El Salvador. From prison, Rivera-Luna directed the activities of the Normandies, an MS-13 clique that operated in El Salvador and the Washington, D.C. area. Members of the Normandie clique would collect money through membership dues, extortion of legitimate and illegitimate businesses, and narcotics distribution to purchase guns and other weapons for the gang and to support imprisoned leaders and members, including Rivera-Luna.  

While he was in prison, Rivera-Luna authorized kill orders on two MS-13 members for breaking MS-13 rules. At Rivera-Luna’s direction, MS-13 members stabbed to death Victim 1 on Nov. 6, 2008, in Northwest Washington, D.C. MS-13 members stabbed Victim 1 at least 20 times. Rivera-Luna also ordered the slaying of a second victim. On March 31, 2010, Victim 2 was found shot to death at a park in Montgomery County, Maryland, after he brought a knife to an MS-13 meeting, which was a violation of MS-13’s rules.  

The government’s evidence demonstrated that Rodas-Ramirez, aka “Perverso,” was the second-in-command of the Normandie clique in the Washington metropolitan area. Rodas-Ramirez participated in a murder and assault involving suspected rival gang members. On April 7, 2008, Rodas-Ramirez was driving his vehicle in the D.C. area with other MS-13 members, when they saw a suspected rival gang member. Rodas-Ramirez stopped his vehicle while another MS-13 member exited and shot Victim 3 multiple times. A Metropolitan Police Officer happened to be near the shooting and was able to respond immediately and provide care to Victim 3, who survived.  

On July 29, 2008, about three months later, Rodas-Ramirez and other MS-13 members found another suspected rival gang member, Victim 4, at an apartment complex in Riverdale, Maryland. They believed Victim 4 was a member of a rival gang that threatened Rodas-Ramirez’s girlfriend’s sister. MS-13 members followed Victim 4, who was riding a bicycle, and shot him multiple times; Victim 4 died of his injuries. 

Rodas-Ramirez was arrested on March 18, 2022 and extradited from Honduras on Aug. 12, 2022.  Rivera-Luna was arrested pursuant to the extradition request on Aug. 28, 2022. Because he was serving a prison sentence in Guatamala at the time, Rivera-Luna was extradited on March 4, 2025.        

Rivera-Luna, who was convicted of RICO conspiracy, is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2027.  

Rodas-Ramirez, who was convicted of RICO conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2027. 

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

The case was investigated by HSI-Washington D.C. and the MPD. Assistance was provided by the Montgomery County and the Prince George’s County, Maryland, Police Departments, the Police Departments of Fairfax and Herndon Counties in Virginia, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. The Governments of Guatemala and Honduras provided critical assistance. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar Mohanty of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section and Mark Levy of the Federal Major Crimes Section in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions of Rivera-Luna and Rodas-Ramirez from Guatemala and Honduras, respectively. 

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. 

The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.  

The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Washington D.C. comprises agents and officers from numerous federal agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

10cr256 

WASHINGTON – Melvin Green, 27, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his role in a 2023 kidnapping that later resulted in the deaths of two men, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Green, aka “Fat Goat,” pleaded guilty on Jan. 5, 2026, before Judge Coleen Kollar-Kotelly to a charge of accessory after the fact kidnapping. In addition to the 60-month prison term, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ordered Green to serve three years of supervised release.  

According to court papers, on June 6, 2023, Green and others traveled from the 4400 block of F Street SE to the Saint Yves nightclub on the 1200 block of Connecticut Ave. NW for a birthday celebration. After returning to F Street in the early morning hours of June 8, Green served as a lookout while his co-conspirators searched an unoccupied Mercedes SUV that was parked on F Street.  

Shortly after 3:40 a.m., Green’s associates kidnapped the Mercedes’ owner, dragging him from the driver’s seat and capturing a second victim. The individuals removed the victims’ clothing and confined them inside the Mercedes to prevent them from fleeing. As the kidnapping unfolded, an individual passed a firearm to Green, who tucked the gun into his waistband and walked away.  

Without Green, the individuals drove to a nearby area where they threatened and assaulted the victims at gunpoint. The individuals then drove one of the victims into Maryland. About 4:40 a.m., the group arrived at an apartment complex in Suitland, Maryland, where one of the victims had a residence and burglarized the victim’s apartment. An hour later, the group arrived at another of the victim’s apartments in Waldorf where the group staged an armed robbery. 

About 5:45 a.m., surveillance cameras recorded three individuals engaging in a shootout with the victim. The shootout left the victim and one of the co-conspirators fatally wounded. About 6:45 a.m., first responders found the victim’s Mercedes engulfed in flames in Capitol Heights, Maryland. 

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force and Safe Streets Task Force, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Crabb Jr. and Anthony Scarpelli of the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Trafficking section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

Green (red box) running toward the black Mercedes SUV during the offenses. 

Glock pistol recovered from search of Green’s residence. 

23cr292 

WASHINGTON -- Rashim Johnson, 35, a previously convicted felon residing in Warsaw, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. to 84 months in federal prison in connection with his illegal possession of a fully loaded Glock 19 handgun and a large quantity of methamphetamine while he was on supervised release for two serious felonies, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Johnson pleaded guilty May 18, 2026, before Judge Amit P. Mehta to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. In addition to the 84-month prison sentence, Judge Mehta ordered Johnson to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 110-month prison term.  

According to court papers, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, about 12:13 a.m., Metro Transit Police Department units assigned to the United States Park Police Task Force were on patrol in an unmarked patrol cruiser near the 4800 Block of Sherrif Road NE.  

Officers observed 10 to 15 people loitering in the middle of the street. The officers stopped and exited their vehicles wearing marked police uniforms. Johnson spotted the approaching officers and immediately fled in the opposite direction. An officer gave chase. As Johnson ran, the officer watched Johnson remove a black object from his waistband and toss it over a chain-link fence.  

Johnson continued running across Kane Place NE. The officer drew his firearm and ordered the Johnson to the ground. Johnson surrendered. Only ten seconds elapsed between when the officer observed Johnson toss the gun and Johnson’s surrender. Police recovered the firearm, a nine-millimeter Glock 19 handgun with an obliterated serial number. The weapon was equipped with an extended magazine loaded with 31 rounds with one round in the chamber. It was also equipped with a flashlight mounted below the barrel. 

Once Johnson was placed in handcuffs, police recovered 53.5 methamphetamine pills from his right pants pocket. 

Johnson was prohibited from possessing any firearm due to his previous convictions for felony firearm possession, possession with intent to distribute PCP and LSD, and for second degree assault, all out of Prince George’s County, Maryland. Johnson also has additional convictions in Maryland for armed robbery, robbery with a deadly weapon, and use of a handgun in a crime of violence. 

This case was investigated by Metro Transit Police Department units assigned to the United States Park Police Task Force.  

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel M. Deau and Travis Wolf.   

 Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful supports President Trump’s Executive Order that cracks down on gun violence, prioritizes federal firearms violations, pursues tougher penalties, and seeks detention for federal firearms violators.    

Following a brief foot chase, police recovered Johnson’s firearm, a nine-millimeter Glock 19 handgun with an obliterated serial number. The weapon was equipped with an extended magazine loaded with 31 rounds with one round in the chamber. It was also equipped with a flashlight mounted below the barrel. 

25cr287 

WASHINGTON — Stephan Anthony Harper 26, and Larry Torian Francois, 26, both residents of the District, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with a series of violent armed carjackings committed in December 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Harper, aka “Blacs,” and Francois, aka “Fatz,” each admitted to participating in four separate armed carjackings carried out across Maryland and the District of Columbia. 

Harper and Francois entered their pleas before the Honorable Jia M. Cobb, each pleading guilty to possessing a firearm during a crime of violence and aiding and abetting and to carjacking and aiding and abetting. Both defendants also agreed to admit their involvement in additional carjackings.  

Judge Cobb scheduled sentencing for February 24 and May 26, 2027, respectively. 

According to the plea documents, the government’s evidence would have established that Harper, Francois, and their co‑conspirators carried out the following carjackings: 

Dec. 11, 2022 – Capitol Heights, Maryland (Acura MDX) 
About 8:30 p.m., the defendants participated in the armed carjacking of a gray 2020 Acura MDX from victim S.A. outside a 7‑Eleven on Ritchie Road. One suspect jumped on the victim’s back while another displayed a handgun. The suspects fled in the stolen vehicle and later transported it across state lines into Washington, D.C. 

Dec. 11, 2022 – Washington, D.C. (Audi A4) 
Around 11:30 p.m., the defendants carjacked a gray Audi A4 from victim A.F. near Randolph Street and Eastern Avenue NE. Two suspects brandished a handgun and demanded the keys before fleeing with the vehicle into the District. 

Dec. 21, 2022 – Hyattsville, Maryland (Dodge Charger) 
At approximately 11:24 p.m., the defendants approached victim J.G. at a Royal Farms gas station on Annapolis Road. One suspect pointed a handgun and threatened to kill him if he did not surrender his white 2019 Dodge Charger. The suspects fled with the vehicle into D.C. 

Dec. 22, 2022 – Temple Hills, Maryland (Dodge Charger) 
Shortly after midnight, at about 12:34 a.m., the defendants stole a gray 2020 Dodge Charger from victim I.C. at a Royal Farms station on Allentown Road. One suspect struck the victim in the head with a handgun, then punched and kicked him before fleeing with the vehicle. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Prince George’s County Police Department.   

24cr551 

WASHINGTON – Henry Buchanan, 48, and Charles Jenkins, 46, both of Washington, D.C., were arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed for the August 4, 2026, shooting death of 23-year-old Xavier Fogle, in the 2600 block of 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

They were presented in D.C. Superior Court on October 1, where Judge Dorsey Jones found probable cause for their arrest and ordered them detained pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 19, 2026. 

According to the arrest warrants, at around 4:15 a.m., on August 4, 2026, the victim, Xavier Fogle, was captured on CCTV footage pulling on door handles in the 1400 block of Clifton St. NW, where defendant Buchanan’s car was parked.  Buchanan is then seen on CCTV footage walking out of his building neighboring Clifton St., getting into a verbal altercation with the victim, and then making a phone call.  Call detail records from Buchanan’s phone show that the call was placed to Co-defendant Jenkins.  Buchanan is then seen on CCTV footage getting into his white BMW sedan and driving in the direction where the victim was headed on foot.  About a block away, Buchanan is seen on CCTV footage exiting his vehicle and seemingly receiving something—presumably a firearm—from Jenkins, who was exiting the same building as Buchanan and running to catch up with him after the phone call Buchanan is then seen on video taking the item, chasing the victim, in the 2600 block of 15th St. NW, and fatally shooting him twice in the back of the legs. 

Buchanan at the intersection, pointing toward the victim. 

Picture of Jenkins showing black object sticking out of his fanny-pack 

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Cocuzza. 

These charges are merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

2026 CF1 015482 & 2026 CF1 015493 

WASHINGTON – Demonte Gibson, 28, Tre’Quan Nelson, 26, and Asani Forte, 29, all of Washington, D.C., were found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, related to a shooting on November 3, 2021, that killed 34-year-old Delonte King and injured several others, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

“Individuals who commit acts of violence against residents of the District have no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Today’s verdict takes violent offenders off our streets and contributes to a safer D.C. for everyone.” 

Gibson was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder while armed, one count of assault with intent to kill while armed, one count of malicious destruction of property, and one count of conspiracy.  

Nelson was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit murder while armed.  

Forte was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit murder while armed.  

This is a retrial as the case resulted in a hung jury in April 2025. Superior Court Judge scheduled sentencing for Gibson on January 8, 2027. 

According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 2:02 p.m., on November 3, 2021, members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Third District responded to the report of a shooting in the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW. Upon arrival, the members located an adult male victim, Delonte King, unconscious and breathing, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to the head and back. Shortly thereafter, a second adult male shooting victim, 64-year-old Allen Hillyer, was located in the 2900 block of 14th Street, NW. Mr. Hillyer was conscious and breathing but suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm. District of Columbia Fire & EMS units were summoned to the scene, and both victims were transported to area hospitals for treatment.  

Later, two additional victims, who were not injured but suffered destruction of property, were inside their home when a bullet came through a third-floor bedroom window, located in Trinity Towers, right up the street from the shooting location. ShotSpotter did not alert to this incident, but later provided that approximately 25 rounds were from the reported location. Surveillance video showed all three defendants congregating together without masks in the area of the shooting and eventually, the defendants were arrested for the shooting spree. A search warrant of Gibson’s apartment uncovered guns and ammo (including head stamps that match some of the head stamps on shell casings found at the murder scene – 40 caliber) they also found a ski mask and purple brand jeans that appear to be identical to the ski mask and the jeans worn by Gibson during the homicide shooting.  

Surveillance image of the three defendants in front entrance of 1443 Fairmont Street, NW

Gibson was arrested on February 27, 2023, Nelson was arrested on March 30, 2023, and Forte was arrested on April 25, 2023. All have been in custody since. 

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin DeRiso. 

2023 CF1 001170 

2023 CF1 001903 

2023 CF1 002532 

WASHINGTON – Jaykell Mason, 26, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 18 years in prison, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, for charges related to a deadly shooting that killed 29-year-old Terence Dantzler and led to a police chase on February 13, 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

Mason pleaded guilty on June 26, 2026, to one count each of second-degree murder while armed and assault on a police officer while armed. Superior Court Judge Jason Park ordered the defendant to the prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release. 

“Terence Dantzler was taken in a cold, deliberate act of violence that shattered a family and shook this community,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The defendant not only executed an innocent man but then fired at an officer who stepped forward to protect others. Our hearts are with Mr. Dantzler’s loved ones, and we hope this accountability offers even a small measure of strength as they continue to bear an unimaginable loss.” 

According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 5:06 p.m., on Feb. 13, 2020, Mason, approached Dantzler, in the 700 block of 8th Street NW and the two spoke briefly. During that time, Mason then raised a firearm, aimed at Dantzler’s head and fired once, striking Dantzler. The victim fell to the ground after which the defendant then fired two more rounds into Dantzler's body before fleeing on foot. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department caught up with Mason in the 1000 block of H Street NW. Mason fired upon the officers, who then returned fire, striking Mason in the hand. Dantzler was transported to a nearby hospital where he died of his injuries. Mason was apprehended shortly thereafter and has been in custody since. 

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wes Faulkner, Jr. 

2020 CF1 001985 

WASHINGTON – A seven count Superseding Indictment was unsealed yesterday in U.S. District Court charging Maliktra Derenorcourt, 27, and Philippe Oliver Gadie, 34, both residents of the District of Columbia, with a multi-year scheme to allegedly enrich themselves by using fake or stolen identities to fraudulently obtain leaseholds on units at various apartment complexes without paying rent or bills, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“This case alleges a calculated fraud operation that weaponized stolen identities, exploited the eviction system, and inflicted significant financial harm across the District,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “These defendants, one of whom is a foreign national unlawfully present in the United States, are charged with orchestrating a housing and Social Security fraud scheme that preyed on innocent victims and undermined the integrity of our housing system. We will not tolerate criminals who exploit our communities for profit and put the safety and security of law-abiding residents at risk.” 

According to the Superseding Indictment, from at least November 2023 to the present, Derenorcourt, Gadie, and others allegedly conspired to obtain a large number of leases for residential units at numerous apartment complexes across Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas.  

The conspirators allegedly used stolen or fabricated Social Security Numbers, so called “Credit Privacy Numbers”, and fabricated letters of employment in furtherance of their scheme. The conspirators then allegedly lived in the units themselves, or sold access to the units to third parties at a fraction of the value of the lease. Nearly all of the apartments that were fraudulently leased as a part of the scheme resulted in eviction proceedings for non-payment of rent causing significant losses for each of the apartment complexes involved. Currently, losses are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, however, the investigation into the extent and scope of the scheme is ongoing.  

In Washington, D.C., the eviction process can span multiple months—even up to a year or longer. Derenorcourt, Gadie, and others allegedly utilized this lengthy process by submitting fraudulent lease applications in batches using the stolen or fabricated identities.  

During the conspiracy, Derenorcourt, Gadie, and others also allegedly used BitCoin and Cash App accounts with stolen and fabricated identities to transfer money between themselves. Gadie used at least one victim’s name, social security number, and date of birth to open a Cash App account conducting hundreds of transactions in the victim’s name. The investigation into these accounts is ongoing.  

Derenorcourt assisted with the scheme by posing as the pair’s female identity theft victims. Search warrants executed at Derenorcourt’s apartment recovered numerous luxury fashion items. Gadie, a citizen of Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa, is unlawfully present in the United States after overstaying his nonimmigrant visa. 

This case is being investigated Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit. The investigation was conducted by the Washington, D.C. Fraud Cell, which is a multi-agency task force established pursuant to the President’s Executive Order 14252 aimed at Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Again.  

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. 

Gadie was apprehended while living on a fraudulent lease at an upscale apartment in Southeast Washington, D.C. 

Gadie entering one of the apartments. 

Derenorcourt and Gadie tapping into one of the fraudulently leased apartments. 

Surveillance photo of Gadie. 

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

26cr142 

WASHINGTON – Kurono Scutchings, 29, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 50 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of a stolen semi-automatic pistol and more than 11 grams of cocaine base, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Kurono Scutchings had already been convicted of robbery, and yet he was again found in possession of a stolen firearm and possession with intent to distribute amounts of various narcotics in the District,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Let this serve as a warning: those who choose a path of illegal firearms possession and possession of trafficking amounts of narcotics will face prosecution and federal prison.” 

Scutchings, aka “Kuron Scutchings,” pleaded guilty on May 6 before U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and to unlawful possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. In addition to the 50-month prison term, Judge Friedrich ordered Scutchings to serve three years of supervised release.  

According to court documents, on Aug. 24, 2025, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Special Missions Unit, along with federal agents operating under the Federal Law Enforcement Surge Task Force, were on patrol in the 2900 block of Knox Place SE. Officers observed Scutchings speaking with another individual before moving to the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle as the officers approached. 

When officers asked Scutchings what was in a clear plastic bag in his hand, he claimed it was marijuana but would not show them the contents. Scutchings then handed over the bag. It contained 11.46 grams of cocaine base. During a subsequent search, officers recovered an FN Five-Seven semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 20 rounds of 5.7x28mm ammunition, hidden in Scutchings’ compression shorts. The firearm had been reported stolen out of Prince George’s County, Maryland. 

Officers also recovered 5.96 grams of methamphetamine and 1.49 grams of fentanyl from the vehicle’s center console.  

Scutchings’ criminal history includes a 2020 D.C. Superior Court conviction for robbery, for which he had been sentenced to 30 months’ incarceration. Given his status as a felon, he was forbidden from possessing any firearm.  

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the Federal Law Enforcement Surge Task Force.  

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump’s Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 

The bag of cocaine base that police recovered from Scutchings. 

Police recovered an FN Five-Seven semiautomatic pistol from Scutchings' shorts.   

25cr332 

WASHINGTON – Kenneth Coleman, 37, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 240 months in prison for the murder of 24-year-old Jireh Martinez in November 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Coleman pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed on July 13, 2026, before D.C. Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson. In addition to the 20-year prison sentence, Judge Dayson ordered Coleman to serve five years of supervised release. 

According to court documents, on November 17, 2023, Coleman attempted to rob Mr. Martinez as Mr. Martinez returned home from a convenience store. Coleman pressed a gun into Mr. Martinez’s head and repeatedly demanded “give it to me.” Mr. Martinez dropped the store bag he was holding but otherwise just stood in place. After the eighth “give it to me,” Coleman pulled the trigger. Mr. Martinez crumpled to the ground, and Coleman walked away. When law enforcement reached Mr. Martinez, his only possession was a single dime.

Coleman was arrested on separate charges on February 9, 2024, and has been in custody ever since.

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Keefer and William Lawrence, who prosecuted the case.

2025 CF1 008763

WASHINGTON – Dayvon Darius Marson, 31, a previously convicted felon residing in the District, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 24 months in federal prison in connection with his possession of a loaded pistol -- an unbranded, non-descript P90 ghost gun -- and attempting to flee from a police traffic stop with it at a crowded gas station, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“This conviction is part of our ongoing mission to crack down on gun violence and protect residents and visitors in the nation’s capital,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Through Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful, which supports President Trump’s Executive Order, our continued efforts have removed more than 2,000 firearms from the hands of criminals.” 

Marson pleaded guilty on April 30, 2026, before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg to a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the 24-month prison term, Chief Judge Boasberg ordered Marson to serve 3 years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 24-month prison sentence.  

According to court documents, on Feb. 26, 2026, about 6:15 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department officers were patrolling the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue NE, with members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the FBI. 

While patrolling, members noticed a Toyota Avalon sedan with heavily tinted windows at the Citgo gas station. Marson was in the driver’s seat and a young child in the rear-passenger seat. Officers questioned Marson, who could not provide a driver’s license. Speaking with Marson, an MPD officer spotted a half-empty bottle of tequila on the floor behind the driver’s seat. 

The MPD officer ordered Marson to step out of the vehicle. Marson refused to do so. An ATF special agent opened the driver’s door and also ordered Marson to step out of the vehicle. Marson again refused to comply. Marson then put the transmission in “drive” and stepped on the accelerator, causing the vehicle to jolt forward as the ATF agent held onto the door. The vehicle dragged the ATF agent several feet before it collided with another parked vehicle. 

After a brief struggle, members restrained Marson. As they did so, members spotted a brown P90 handgun with no serial number laying on the driver’s seat on which Marson had been sitting. The firearm was loaded with one round of .40 caliber ammunition in the chamber and 12 rounds in the magazine. During a search of Marson members recovered 11 multi-colored pills in a clear plastic bag from his socks. The pills were field-tested and yielded a positive indication for amphetamines. 

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the FBI Washington Field Office.  

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy.   

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful supports President Trump's Executive Order that cracks down on gun violence, prioritizes federal firearms violations, pursues tougher penalties, and seeks detention for federal firearms violators.    

Evidence photo of Marson’s unbranded, non-descript P90 ghost gun.  

In this body-worn camera photo, officers struggle to take Marson into custody at the gas station.  

The half-empty bottle of tequila found in Marson’s car at the time of his arrest. 

26cr46 

WASHINGTON – A civil settlement agreement with Enterprise Technology Solutions, Inc., Zahid (“Donny”) Sheikh, and Shamela (“Meena”) Sheikh (collectively “ETS”) whereby ETS will pay $2,250,000 to resolve allegations that ETS violated the False Claims Act by falsely claiming that the company qualified for two Small Business Administration (“SBA”) programs which allowed ETS to inappropriately obtain Government contracts set aside for certain small businesses was reached today, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“By lying about who they were and where they operated, this company siphoned money from programs designed to help small businesses in disadvantaged American communities and to support women‑owned small businesses,” said United States Attorney Pirro. “They claimed benefits they were never entitled to, all while running their operations out of Pakistan. My Office will continue to expose schemes like this, protect taxpayer-funded programs, and hold accountable anyone who tries to defraud the government through deception.” 

The United States alleges that ETS, an IT solutions provider, made false statements to participate in SBA’s Historically Underutilized Business Zone (or HUBZone), which provides federal contracting preferences for small businesses located in economically disadvantaged areas. The HUBZone program requires a company’s principal office and 35 percent of its employees reside in a HUBZone. Despite claiming its principal office was in College Park, Maryland, and half of its four employees lived locally in that HUBZone, the United States alleges ETS’s principal office and over 50 of its employees resided in Pakistan. 

The United States also alleges that ETS made false statements to participate in SBA’s Women Owned Small Business (“WOSB”) program, which provides federal contracting preferences for businesses that are owned and, importantly, controlled by one or more women. Despite assertions that Meena Sheikh led ETS, the United States alleges that Donny Sheikh exercised both day-to-day and strategic control of ETS and effectively operated as its President and Chief Executive Officer.   

The United States contends that, as a consequence of these false representations, ETS received over 150 contract awards to which it was not entitled under the small business programs. The Government also alleges that ETS violated the Trade Agreements Act by knowingly selling IT equipment to federal agencies that were not made in the United States or in designated trade-partner countries.   

The resolution obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office was the result of a coordinated effort with multiple federal agencies, including the SBA, General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General. 

“Companies that falsely claim small business status to secure government contracts steal opportunities directly from hardworking Americans," said Adelle Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Field Office at the NASA Office of Inspector General. “We will not tolerate contractors who breach public trust by obscuring who they are, where they operate, or where their products come from. Today's settlement underscores the importance of interagency collaboration to preserve the integrity of the federal procurement process.” 

“The GSA Office of Inspector General will aggressively pursue contractors that provide false information to win federal contracts,” said Special Agent in Charge Elisa Pellegrini of the GSA Office of Inspector General Mid-Atlantic Investigations Division. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to protect our supply chain and the integrity of the federal contracting process.” 

“SBA is committed to rooting out fraud alongside the Department of Justice and our other law enforcement partners,” said Jennifer Prescott, SBA General Counsel.  “We will continue to hold the perpetrators of fraud accountable and recover ill-gotten contract dollars meant for legitimate small businesses.” 

The allegations resolved by this settlement arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act under which private citizens can sue on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. The settlement provides for the whistleblower, Kyle Harris, to receive $337,500 as his share of the settlement. 

The settlement was reached through the work of Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Tepe and Auditor Timothy J. Hurley.  This is the first recovery on behalf of the United States since U.S. Attorney Pirro announced the creation of the Fraud and Asset Recovery Division. 

The lawsuit is captioned U.S. ex. rel. Harris v. Enterprise Technology Solutions, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 21-3220 (D.D.C.) 

The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

WASHINGTON – Charles Rucker, 25, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in connection with the July 5, 2025, shooting death of a three-year-old girl in Southeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“This defendant opened fire on a family’s car with complete disregard for human life, and his actions took the life of innocent three‑year‑old Honesty Cheadle,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This kind of senseless violence devastates families and communities. It will not be tolerated. We will continue to pursue justice aggressively and hold violent offenders accountable, especially when their actions harm the most vulnerable among us.”

Rucker pleaded guilty before D.C. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt to one count of first-degree murder while armed and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. The plea agreement calls for a sentence of 35 years’ incarceration. Judge Brandt scheduled sentencing for December 14, 2026. 

According to court documents, in the early morning hours of July 5, 2025, the 3-year-old victim and her family had just returned, in their vehicle, from enjoying attending several cookouts and fireworks at celebrations for Independence Day. When they reached the 1000 block of 14th Street SE, they made a U-turn and parked their vehicle on the east side of the street. Shortly after parking the vehicle, Rucker, who was seen on surveillance video, walked into the area and began to fire several shots in the direction of a parked car that the toddler and three of her family members occupied. After the shooting, Rucker attempted to collect and remove evidence from the scene. The toddler was transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head and succumbed to her injuries on July 7, 2025. 

Rucker was arrested on July 12, 2025, and has been in custody since.

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

This case was investigated by the Homicide Major Case Section of the Metropolitan Police Department. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma McArthur and Stephanie Dinan.

2025 CF1 007905

WASHINGTON – Langston Wedge, 20, of Upper Marlboro, MD, was sentenced today in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, for charges related to a shooting at the Power Nightclub in Northeast that injured five people, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Wedge pleaded guilty, on April 6, 2026, to two counts of aggravated assault while armed and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, in the D.C. Superior Court. On October 1, 2026, Judge Errol Arthur sentenced Wedge to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. The Court denied without prejudice the defense request for a sentence under the Youth Rehabilitation Act.

According to the government’s evidence, in the early morning of November 2, 2025, Wedge, who was with a group of friends, got into fight with others outside the Power Nightclub at 2335 Bladensburg Road Northeast. Power Nightclub was hosting a Halloween-themed costume event. The event was crowded and some celebrants spilled out into a line on the sidewalk in front of the club. At 1:47 a.m., Wedge started shooting wildly toward the crowd, and panicked attendees scattered and ran for cover. During the shooting, five people and a vehicle were struck with bullets. One victim was shot in the leg. A second victim was shot through the back and the upper arm and continues to experience pain and discomfort from his injury. Two victims were each shot through the thigh. And one victim was shot through the right side of his chest and lost an enormous amount of blood, spending three days in ICU with a punctured lung. 

Prince George’s County Police arrested Wedge on November 17, 2025. At the time of arrest, the defendant was in possession of a Glock 26 .9mm handgun with a magazine capable of holding 30 rounds of ammunition. Ballistics evidence showed that this was the firearm used to shoot the five victims at the nightclub, two weeks earlier.

Picture of Glock 26 .9mm handgun recovered from defendant at time of arrest.

Wedge was arrested in D.C. on December 10, 2025, and has been in custody since.

Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll, commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Reck, who prosecuted the case.

2025 CF2 016774

WASHINGTON – Tyzell Myrick, 30, a previously convicted felon residing in Bowie, Maryland, was sentenced today in the District of Columbia to 33 months in federal prison for possessing a loaded Glock 22 .40 caliber pistol while on supervised release following a conviction for a violent gunpoint robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Myrick pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras on June 12, 2026, to a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 33-month prison term, Judge Contreras ordered Myrick to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 41-month prison sentence. 

According to court documents, on August 17, 2025, about midnight, Metropolitan Police officers were on patrol near the Crown Gas station on Florida Avenue NW, just off the U Street corridor, when they spotted Myrick walking with the distinct shape of a firearm protruding from his pants. Myrick attempted to walk away and conceal his body from the police, but officers stopped him, recovered the Glock pistol, and arrested him. 

The recovered firearm was loaded with one round of .40 caliber ammunition in the chamber, and an additional 20 rounds in its 22 round capacity magazine. 

At the time of his arrest, Myrick was on supervised release for the July 2017 gunpoint robbery of a GameStop in Maryland.  On September 17, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland sentenced Myrick to six months in prison for the robbery and 84 months for brandishing a firearm. 

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Office.    

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Liss. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.  

Still from police body-worn camera showing the recovery of the firearm from Myrick’s pants. 

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WASHINGTON – Matthew Randall Gigot, 40, a previously convicted sex offender residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 56 months in federal prison in connection with his trafficking of child sexual abuse material and his failure to register as a sex offender, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Matthew Gigot, a convicted sex offender, was required to report all of his online accounts. Instead, he hid them and used those accounts to seek out child pornography with other predators,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He chose concealment and exploitation; this sentence shows those choices have consequences. We will keep exposing those who target children and those who try to hide in the shadows.” 

Gigot pleaded guilty on April 6 before U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan to sexual performance using minors and to failure to register as a sex offender. In addition to the 56-month prison term related to his conviction involving Sexual Performance Using Minors and 24-month sentence related to his conviction involving a violation of his requirement to register as a sex offender, Judge Chutkan ordered Gigot to serve 10 years of supervised release on each offense.  Gigot will also be required to register as a sex offender for life in D.C.   

According to court documents, between November 2024 and June 2025, Gigot traveled to a residence in the District to meet with other individuals to view child sexual abuse materials, at times engaging in sexual conduct with other adults while doing so. The material depicted young, prepubescent children being sexually abused by adults. Gigot also joined online video sessions from his D.C. home for the same purpose. 

Separately, between July 2024 and March 2026, Gigot failed to report a secondary email account, a Snapchat account, and several Telegram accounts he was actively using, despite his being required to report any change in his registration information within 72 hours.  

Gigot had been registered as a sex offender in the District of Columbia since 2016, following a prior conviction for sexual performance using minors. During a January 23, 2026, search of his residence, FBI agents recovered the unreported accounts from electronic devices.  

This marks Gigot’s second conviction for trafficking in child sexual abuse material. 

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department.  

It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard S. Kelley. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

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WASHINGTON – Cornelius Welch, 28, a previously convicted felon residing in the District, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 33 months in prison in connection with shooting at a scooter rider in November 2025 in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

            “This defendant fired three shots in the direction of someone simply riding a scooter,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “By the grace of God, no one was struck. A convicted armed robber who was prohibited from possessing a firearm, he chose to open fire on a neighborhood street, showing a complete disregard for the lives of others. He now faces the consequences of that decision.” 

            Welch pleaded guilty on May 19, 2026, before Judge Rudolph Contreras to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and to endangerment with a firearm. In addition to the 33-month prison term, Judge Contreras ordered Welch to serve three years of supervised release.   

            According to court documents, on Nov. 22, 2025, about 4:15 p.m. Welch was at the Benning Courts apartment complex on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE, as an unknown person was riding a scooter on the sidewalk.  

            Welch drew a firearm, aimed at the scooter rider, and fired three times. The incident was captured on surveillance cameras. The scooter rider did not appear to be injured and continued to travel away from the scene of the shooting.  

            Metropolitan Police officers responded to the scene, canvassed the street, and recovered three .40 caliber shell casings.  

            On Jan. 10, 2026, investigators from the MPD and agents from the DEA executed a search warrant at an apartment in the 1700 block of Benning Road where Welch was staying with his girlfriend. Law enforcement recovered a loaded privately manufactured semiautomatic rifle, a loaded privately manufactured .40 caliber pistol, a loaded Glock 42x 9mm pistol, powder cocaine, crack cocaine and PCP. Welch and his girlfriend were arrested and charged the same day in D.C. Superior Court with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance while armed among other charges. 

            Welch has a previous felony conviction for armed robbery and therefore was prohibited from possessing any gun. 

            On July 29, 2026, Welch was convicted in D.C. Superior Court of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (cocaine) and unlawful possession of a firearm. 

            This case was investigated by the DEA, the ATF, and the Metropolitan Police Department.  

            The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Lee.  

            Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful supports President Trump's Executive Order that cracks down on gun violence, prioritizes federal firearms violations, pursues tougher penalties, and seeks detention for federal firearms violators.    

Welch at the Benning Courts apartment building in a surveillance photo captured the day of the shooting.  

  Surveillance photo shows Welch (circled in red) and the scooter rider (circled in yellow). 

Welch takes aim at the scooter rider before firing three times. 

The .40 caliber pistol recovered from the apartment. 

The privately manufactured .22 rifle (left) and the Glock 43x 9mm pistol recovered from the apartment. 

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WASHINGTON — Keishawn Johnson, 23, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 204 months in prison in connection with kidnapping two girls and the sexual exploitation of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Keishawn Johnson terrorized two children, hunting them and holding them hostage. Now he’s headed exactly where he belongs: federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We will not tolerate this violence and disregard for human life. Anyone who preys on children will meet the same fate.” 

Johnson pleaded guilty on Jan. 21, 2026, before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to kidnapping while armed and sexual exploitation of a child. In addition to the 204-month prison term, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ordered Johnson to serve 10 years of supervised release.  

According to court papers, in September 2024, Johnson tricked a 15-year-old girl into getting into his car in the District by falsely telling her that her 14-year-old friend was inside. Johnson then held the teenager against her will and demanded she help him locate a missing firearm. When the teenager's mother tried to remove her from the vehicle at a gas station, Johnson drove away with the teenager still inside. Johnson later used the teen's phone to lure her 14-year-old friend to a location in the District, where he and an accomplice, Antoine Jones, pointed firearms at the younger girl and forced her into a vehicle. Police arrived as the abduction was underway, and the older teenager was left behind while Johnson fled with the younger girl. 

Johnson held the 14-year-old against her will overnight, driving her to multiple locations in the District and Maryland while continuing to search for the firearm, and assaulted her during that time. Police located Johnson again the following afternoon; he fled with the 14-year-old still in the car and crashed the vehicle before running from the scene on foot. Law enforcement recovered the girl at that time. 

Investigators also recovered a phone containing video Johnson had recorded weeks earlier showing him sexually abusing the 14-year-old girl. 

At the time of the kidnapping, Johnson was on probation in two Maryland cases involving theft, burglary and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, and faced a pending burglary and grand larceny case in Fairfax County, Virginia. 

Jones, Johnson’s accomplice, also pleaded guilty on Jan. 21, 2026, before Judge Kollar-Kotelly, to kidnapping while armed. Jones was sentenced to 114 months in prison. 

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.  

This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell. 

This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

Frame grab from surveillance video shows the abduction circled in yellow. 

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WASHINGTON – Louis Geri, 42, of Vineland, New Jersey, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 70 months in prison in connection with threatening to detonate more than 100 homemade explosive devices on the steps of St. Matthew's Cathedral during the annual Red Mass attended by U.S. Supreme Court Justices and other senior government officials, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Geri pleaded guilty March 5 before Judge Randolph M. Moss to a count of Hobbs Act extortion by wrongful use of force, violence, or fear, and to a count of possession of an unregistered firearm (destructive device). In addition to the 70-month prison sentence, Judge Moss ordered Geri to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison term of 87 months. 

“The First Amendment will be respected in the District of Columbia. Threatening to detonate explosive devices at a house of worship during an important historic religious service, known as the Red Mass, is an attack on our community and on the fundamental right to worship freely,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Defendant Geri chose to terrorize a sacred space, St. Matthew’s Cathedral, and endanger officers and parishioners, thereby preventing Supreme Court Justices from attending an annual religious event. Seventy months in federal prison reflects the seriousness of his conduct and our commitment to protecting every community from extremist threats and violence.” 

According to the plea agreement, on the evening of Oct. 4, 2025, Geri rode his motorcycle to St. Matthew's Cathedral, on the 1700 block of Rhode Island Ave. NW, and erected a tent on the church's front steps. Inside the tent, he assembled more than 100 explosive devices he had manufactured from materials — including nitromethane, magnesium, charcoal, and thermite — purchased in Arkansas and assembled in Virginia. He also carried a nine-page list of written demands.  

The Red Mass, a high-profile annual religious ceremony attended by members of the Supreme Court, Cabinet, Congress, and the diplomatic corps, was scheduled at the cathedral for the following morning.  

About 5 a.m. on Oct. 5, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department officers approached Geri's tent while patrolling the area before the service. When officers told him he would need to move, Geri refused and threatened to throw one of his explosive devices into the street to demonstrate its destructive power. He told officers that "several of your people are gonna die from one of these" if federal agents did not come to negotiate his demands.  

Geri's written demands included hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments to himself and others, extended accommodations at the Mayflower Hotel, an expatriation flight to Japan, and requests that the Supreme Court remove Arizona from the United States and declare it a “foreign enemy.” He also made numerous demands directed at leaders of the Catholic and Jewish faiths.  

Law enforcement established a barricade around the tent and apprehended Geri about 5:53 a.m. when he briefly emerged. Officers found one explosive device in his pocket along with a butane lighter. A search of the tent revealed more than 100 additional devices. Testing by an FBI laboratory confirmed the devices were improvised explosive devices in operable condition.  

Following his arrest, Geri waived his Miranda rights and described the devices as “grenades” and “rockets.” He admitted that he intended to use the threat of force to coerce negotiations and that he was willing to use the devices to harm people and property — including St. Matthew's Cathedral, the White House, the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol, and the Supreme Court.  

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department, with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division.  

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Satter for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.  

The defendant holding destructive devices in his tent. 

Items—including destructive devices—found inside of the defendant’s tent. 

One of the six homemade destructive devices examined by the FBI laboratory. 

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WASHINGTON – Deondre Rogers, 20, and Hanif Brown,20, both of Washington, D.C., were sentenced today to 17 years and 14 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in anarmed carjacking and robbery spree committed in 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

“At 17-years-old in 2023, these defendants went on a crime spree—stealing cars, jewelry, and other personal possessions from their victims, with complete disregard for the people they harmed, and then callously showing off their stolen property on social media,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This sentence sends a clear message: those who terrorize our community with violence and firearms will be held fully accountable.”

Both Rogers and Brown pleaded guilty on August 3, 2026, to one count each of carjacking, armed robbery, robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of carrying a pistol without a license. The defendants were originally charged in an 87-count indictment.Brown was 17 years old at the time of the offenses, while Rogers turned 17 in April 2023 during the crime spree; both defendants were charged as adults pursuant to Title 16. The government sought a 17-year prison sentence for each defendant. Superior Court Judge Jason Park imposed the requested sentence on Rogers but sentenced Brown to 14 years pursuant to the Youth Rehabilitation Act, citing Brown’s lack of criminal history and expressed remorse.

According to the government’s evidence, on the afternoon of April 7, 2023, Rogers and Brown rear-ended a white Jeep inside the Third Street Tunnel while driving a stolen Mercedes sedan. The defendants exited the Mercedes sedan, pointed firearms at the Jeep’s two occupants, and demanded that they exit the vehicle. After the victims complied, the defendants entered the Jeep and drove away. 

In the early morning hours of April 16, 2023, Rogers and Brown robbed another victim at gunpoint in the 1600 block of 5th Street NW. As the victim was walking with a friend, the defendants pulled up alongside them in a white Chevrolet sedan, and one of the defendants got out. Hepointed a firearm at the victim and demanded his keys and cell phone, as the second defendant remained seated in the Chevrolet sedan.  The victim handed over his vehicle keys and cell phone. The defendants drove away in the Chevrolet sedan and the victim’s vehicle.  

In the early morning hours of May 4, 2023, the defendants robbed two victims at gunpoint in the 1400 block of U Street NW. Rogers and Brown exited a white sedan, carrying handguns, and demanded the victims’ property. The defendants took two necklaces, an iPhone, a Louis Vuitton belt, a rose/white gold Audemars Piquet watch valued at approximately $40,000, and a gold and silver Rolex valued at approximately $7,000. 

On the night of the robbery and in the days that followed, Rogers and Brown appeared in multiple videos, photographs, and a music video posted to social media that showed them wearing the stolen watches.

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Travis Wolf and Brian Hanley, who prosecuted the case.  

 2025 CF3 003623; 2023 CF3 004265 

WASHINGTON – Tevon Stephens, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 216 months in prison in connection with his distribution of child sexual abuse material and his sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Stephens deliberately sought out vulnerable minors online, traded in images documenting their exploitation, and gained access to a child in person,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My office will not relent in pursuing predators who target our community’s children, and we remain committed to protecting them.” 

Stephens pleaded guilty on January 14 before U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of first-degree child sexual abuse. In addition to the 216month prison sentence, Judge Walton also ordered Stephens to serve 15 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison term of 216 months. 

According to court papers, Stephens used a dating application profile that misrepresented his age. He then communicated with an undercover officer whom he believed was the father of a young boy. During the exchange, Stephens expressed a sexual interest in children and admitted to prior sexual contact with underage girls. He also sent the undercover officer videos of child sexual abuse material. 

In March 2025, law enforcement arrested Stephens at his home in Northeast Washington. Investigators recovered thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material from one of his cell phones, including material Stephens is alleged to have personally produced depicting the sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl. 

Investigators also determined that Stephens had used two Instagram accounts to contact minor girls online. He later had sexual contact with one of the girls, who was 15 years old at the time, at his home. 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caroline Burrell.  

It was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.  

The matter was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

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WASHINGTON - Kamar Clayton, 23, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 24 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm equipped with an extended magazine after crashing a stolen car and fleeing police on foot, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Clayton pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony crime. U.S. District Court Judge Amy B. Jackson ordered Clayton to serve 24 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  

According to court documents, on March 23, 2026, at approximately 7:26 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were patrolling with federal law enforcement officers in Southeast Washington, D.C. Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a dark-colored car in a parking lot in the 4900 block of G Street SE. As that car stopped, an unrelated black Chrysler 300 sped out of the parking lot, struck three unoccupied parked cars, and fled the scene. 

Two of the Three Cars the Chrysler 300 Ran Into 

Law enforcement tracked the Chrysler 300 to the intersection of 46th Street SE and G Street SE, where the vehicle had crashed into a grassy lawn next to a residence. Officers observed the driver and a passenger exit the running vehicle and flee on foot. Following a short pursuit, officers apprehended the driver—identified as Clayton—in the 4600 block of G Street SE. Federal law enforcement officers apprehended the passenger. 

The Chrysler 300 Where Clayton Left It 

A law enforcement database search revealed that the Chrysler 300 had been reported stolen from Prince George’s County, Maryland, on February 6, 2026. Clayton, who did not have a valid driver’s license, was placed under arrest for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. 

During a search incident to arrest, Clayton informed officers, “I got a gun on me.” Officers recovered a Glock Model 21, .45 ACP-caliber semiautomatic pistol from Clayton’s left pant leg. The firearm was loaded with one round in the chamber and five rounds in an attached 26-round capacity extended magazine. Clayton did not have a license to carry a firearm. Officers also recovered the vehicle's keys, six clear bags, and $400 in cash from Clayton. 

Clayton’s Firearm with an Extended Magazine 

At the time of the offense, Clayton was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction. In 2023, Clayton was convicted in D.C. Superior Court of Carrying a Pistol Without a License, for which he received an 8-month prison sentence. 

This matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Ibanez. 

The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro today announced the creation of the Fraud and Asset Recovery Division, a specialized unit dedicated to investigating and pursuing fraud cases, with a particular focus on the False Claims Act. The new division marks a significant expansion of federal civil fraud enforcement capacity in the nation’s capital. Recent years have seen record setting False Claims Act recoveries and qui tam lawsuits. By creating a new division with AUSAs and support staff devoted to investigating and litigating cases involving all types of fraud against the government, this office will be a premier destination to fight rampant fraud in the epicenter of the federal government.   

"President Trump has prioritized the elimination of fraud, waste, and abuse involving federal agencies and programs,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This new Fraud and Asset Recovery Division will reinforce and consolidate our resources to hold fraudsters accountable and recover taxpayer dollars. We are sending a clear message: those who cheat the federal government will face decisive, coordinated action." 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office will significantly increase and realign its resources from its existing Affirmative Civil Enforcement unit within the Civil Division to form the new division.  The reorganization draws a clear line between affirmative civil enforcement and the important defensive workload of the Civil Division, centralizing experience and maximizing results. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has a long history of combatting fraud and recovering billions of dollars on behalf of American taxpayers under the False Claims Act. Working in partnership with the Justice Department’s Civil Fraud Section, federal investigative agencies, and whistleblowers, the office has successfully resolved major cases, including:   

• A large government contractor for improperly billing commercial and international costs to government contracts;
• A software manufacturer for defrauding the government through false disclosures and intentional overbilling;
• A medical device manufacturer for misbranding and off-label marketing; and
• A pharmaceutical manufacturer for failing to comply with laws regulating medication. 

In recent years, the overwhelming demands of the office’s civil defensive docket have limited available resources for affirmative investigations and litigation. The creation of the Fraud and Asset Recovery Division ensures dedicated resources to establish a premier anti-fraud enforcement unit at the epicenter of the federal government in Washington, DC. 

The Division will be comprised of dedicated AUSAs, investigators, auditors, and support staff. In addition to False Claims Act cases, the Division will handle other affirmative civil enforcement matters, including civil collections on behalf of federal agencies, enforcement of agency and OIG subpoenas, and civil asset forfeiture actions. 

The Financial Litigation Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office will also be part of the Fraud and Asset Recovery Division.  This unit collects special assessments, fines, and restitution debts imposed in criminal cases, and civil debts owed to the United States and Federal agencies such as civil judgments and settlements in affirmative cases, and student loan debts owed to the Department of Education.

Dan Schiffer will serve as Chief and Sean M. Tepe will serve as Deputy Chief overseeing the Division. 

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A federal jury in the District of Columbia convicted Devontee Parker, 38, of Dallas, today for sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, interstate transportation for purpose of prostitution, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. 

 “Devontee Parker trafficked vulnerable women by intimidating them with physical violence to make money,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The courage of the victim resulted in compelling testimony that secured this important conviction, which will ensure that Parker will never be able to traffic victims again.”

“I am proud of the deep expertise our prosecutors bring to human trafficking cases,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Their exceptional work is a key reason we hold a 100% conviction rate in these prosecutions. With FBI agents embedded in our office, we have strengthened both our commitment to eradicating human trafficking and the successful results we are seeing in court.”

“Today’s verdict underscores the victims’ remarkable courage and the unwavering commitment of our agents and partners who pursued justice in this case,” said Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office. “The FBI will continue to lead aggressive investigations that hold traffickers accountable and connect victims with the support they need to rebuild their lives.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Parker met the victim in 2021 while she was struggling with housing insecurity, financial instability, and grieving the loss of a beloved family member. Parker made the victim believe he cared about her and enticed her to come live with him in Texas. Once the victim agreed, Parker advertised the victim online, set prices for the commercial sex acts, and drove her to sex buyers in multiple states as well as  the District of Columbia. 

Parker demanded that the victim turn over all her earnings to him and controlled her access to money, food, and other necessities. He also set a daily earning quota for the victim and punished her with violence if she did not make enough money. The victim testified that during one incident, Parker strangled her until she lost consciousness. During another incident, Parker gave her a black eye. 

Parker also routinely looked through the victim’s phone to monitor her communications with others and forbade her from speaking with friends after they witnessed his abuse. Parker also introduced the victim to drugs, including cocaine, and routinely supplied her with illicit substances while instructing her to have sex with men for money. After several unsuccessful attempts to leave Parker, the victim escaped in 2024 when he was arrested on prostitution-related charges by state authorities. Parker was indicted in Texas on charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion related to additional victims in August 2026. 

The jury convicted Parker of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, interstate transportation for purpose of prostitution, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3, 2027. Parker faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Trial Attorney Jessica Arco of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Bohlen and Karen Shinskie for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. 

The FBI Washington Field Office and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department are investigating the case.

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced significant outcomes from her multi-agency summer crackdowns aimed at reducing violent crime and dismantling narcotics trafficking networks throughout the District. Over the summer months, federal prosecutors partnered closely with the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, and additional agencies to focus resources on individuals driving violence and drug distribution in D.C. neighborhoods.

“The results of this summer’s enforcement operations demonstrate the impact of sustained, coordinated, neighborhood‑focused federal action,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We will continue prioritizing individuals driving violence, dismantling organized narcotics networks, and delivering meaningful accountability for those who endanger our communities.”

The achievements outlined below represent federal prosecutions and enforcement actions led by the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking and Federal Major Crimes Sections; they do not encompass local prosecutions pursued in D.C. Superior Court.

During the summer investigative push, law enforcement seized 533 illegal firearms and recovered substantial quantities of narcotics, including 64.1 kilograms of methamphetamine, 46.7 kilograms of cocaine, 3.4 kilograms of crack cocaine, and 3.0 kilograms of fentanyl. These efforts were supported by an aggressive prosecution strategy that resulted in more than 60 defendants being federally indicted. Of the individuals charged, 30 were involved in serious narcotics offenses and 30 were charged in felon‑in‑possession cases. In addition, authorities arrested 28 known gang members whose activities contributed to persistent violence in affected communities.

The summer enforcement push also produced several major takedowns. One investigation led to the dismantling of an 11‑defendant methamphetamine and GBL trafficking conspiracy with international ties to South Korea. Another operation targeted a 14‑defendant crack cocaine distribution ring operating within 1,000 feet of Hendley Elementary School; investigators seized 28 firearms, kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and additional narcotics during the course of the investigation. A third large‑scale case involved the operator of Forest Floor LLC, who was trafficking MDMA within 1,000 feet of Catholic University. In that case, law enforcement seized more than $250,000 in cash, $200,000 in jewelry, 74 pounds of psychedelic mushrooms, and 18 pounds of marijuana.

The Office also reported significant progress from its International Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) operations. This included indictments of 19 defendants—among them, three Mexican nationals—along with 26 arrests and 15 convictions. Agents seized more than 2,300 kilograms of cocaine and recovered over $1.6 million in drug proceeds stemming from transnational trafficking routes.

Federal prosecutors secured convictions for 11 defendants across multiple federal jury trials during the summer period. These included four defendants convicted in a crew‑related murder conspiracy, who face mandatory minimum sentences of 40 years (lead defendant) and 30 years; three defendants convicted in a felony‑robbery murder case carrying a mandatory minimum of 30 years; and one defendant found guilty of carrying out a spree of armed robberies targeting convenience stores, who faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 31 years. Additional convictions included an Armed Career Criminal charged with felon‑in‑possession, a defendant convicted of felon‑in‑possession connected to a crime of violence, and a convicted sex offender found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia remains committed to strengthening public safety through rigorous federal prosecution, intelligence‑driven investigations, and strong partnerships across federal, local, and community organizations.

WASHINGTON – Preston Fleming, 68, of Ducula, Georgia was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 6-months of home confinement in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $170,000 in COVID-19 disaster relief loans for a trucking company that had ceased operating years earlier, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Fleming lied about his company’s operations, lied about how the money would be used, and then lied again to have the loan forgiven, all so he could build himself a new home with pandemic relief funds meant to save struggling small businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My office will continue to hold accountable anyone who treated disaster relief programs as a personal piggy bank.” 

“Preston Fleming’s conduct reflects a blatant audacity to commit fraud. As a former HUD employee, he knew the responsibilities that come with public service, yet he chose to exploit a national emergency for personal gain,” according to HUD Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Jerome Winkle.  “Applying for substantial COVID‑19 relief funds for a business he had already closed undermines the integrity of programs meant to support Americans in crisis. Our office remains steadfast in bringing accountability to those who abuse federal relief efforts.” 

Fleming pleaded guilty on April 17, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell to one count of wire fraud. In addition to 6-months home confinement, Judge Howell ordered Fleming to serve two years of supervised release and to pay the total remaining balance of fraudulently obtained funds. Prosecutors had requested a term of imprisonment.   

According to court papers, between 2018 and 2019, Fleming was a co-owner of Fleming Transport Services, Inc. (FTS), a Texas-based trucking company. FTS went out of business before the COVID-19 pandemic and was not an ongoing concern by January 2020. Despite that, between April 2020 and June 2021, Fleming submitted a series of false and fraudulent loan applications to the Small Business Administration in which he sought disaster relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. 

Fleming falsely certified that FTS was operational as of January 2020 and that the loan proceeds would be used for payroll and other covered operating expenses. Based on the misrepresentations, the SBA and third-party lenders funded about $172,500 in loans. Rather than using the funds to support FTS, Fleming spent the loan proceeds on personal expenses. He bought land in Dacula, Georgia, and spent loan money to build a personal residence on that property. He also disbursed thousands of dollars in loan proceeds to a relative. 

In August 2021, Fleming applied for forgiveness of the company’s $12,994 Paycheck Protection Program loan. On the application, Fleming falsely certified that he had complied with all program requirements. Based on those fraudulent documents, the SBA forgave the loan in full, plus interest. 

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Reck, and Trial Attorneys Alexandre Dempsey and Aaron Jennen of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. 

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. 

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit. 

26cr49 

WASHINGTON – Demetrius Beatty, 40, of the District of Columbia, was arrested and charged with first-degree felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children for the August 16 death of a two-month-old child in his custody, in Southeast, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

Beatty made his initial appearance September 17 before Superior Court Judge Dorsey Jones. Judge Jones found probable cause that Beatty committed the offenses and ordered him to be held without bond pending a preliminary hearing on September 28, 2026, before Judge J. Michael Ryan.    

According to court documents, on August 16, 2026, Beatty was left with two of his stepchildren, two-month-old twins, alone in his residence with three other minor children. Officers responded to 809 New Jersey Avenue Southeast and located a two-month-old child unconscious and unresponsive.  An autopsy was done on the baby where it was determined that her cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries to the head and the manner of death was homicide.  

Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

This case is being investigated by the Special Victims Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

Charges in a complaint are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  

2026 CF1 014643 

WASHINGTON – Vera Nyiawung, 34, a registered nurse from Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in connection with a $14 million health care fraud scheme that billed D.C. Medicaid for mental health services that were never provided or were grossly inflated, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Padding call lengths, recycling notes, and billing Medicaid for care that never happened isn’t healthcare—it’s organized theft,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Vera Nyiawung was trusted to oversee care for vulnerable youth but instead used her position to validate fake records and facilitate a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme. My office will relentlessly prosecute those who exploit public healthcare programs for personal gain.”  

Nyiawung pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Nyiawung faces up to 10 years in prison a $250,000 fine and restitution. 

According to court documents, Nyiawung was employed as a nurse at a D.C. Medicaid provider authorized to deliver mental health rehabilitative services to youth and adolescents, beginning in January 2023. In addition to her nursing duties, Nyiawung performed Community Support Worker (CSW) duties, supervised other staff, and reviewed encounter notes for approval. 

Nyiawung conspired with company employees and other community support workers to siphon millions from D.C. Medicaid through thousands of fraudulent claims for reimbursement. Company employees directed Nyiawung and other workers to bill the maximum allowable time per consumer regardless of medical necessity or actual service. 

To execute the scheme, workers, like Nyiawung, billed a full hour for telephonic encounters even if the calls only lasted a few minutes.  Workers were trained to evade false claims detection by randomly selecting times a few minutes below the 60-minute maximum call length.  Workers were directed to bill three hours, and later one hour, for diagnostic assessments regardless of how much time was spent with the consumer. Community support workers were told to recycle information from a single telehealth session to generate multiple fabricated encounter notes. This resulted in bills to D.C. Medicaid for several days of services that were based on only one actual conversation with the consumer. 

Investigators determined that Nyiawung’s participation in the conspiracy resulted in a loss to Medicaid of over $550,000.   

Joining in the announcement was Matthew Wilcoxson, Interim Inspector General for the District of Columbia. 

This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, the D.C. Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The District Department of Health Care Finance’s Division of Program Integrity referred this matter and provided assistance during the investigation. 

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Facci of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section. 

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. 

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit. 

26cr175 

WASHINGTON – Wali Shabazz, 51, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday, by a Superior Court jury, for a stabbing incident that took place on the sidewalk of Audi Field, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Shabazz was found guilty of one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed and one count of carrying a dangerous weapon on September 16, 2026. The Honorable Judge Danya Dayson scheduled sentencing for November 13, 2026.  

According to the government’s evidence, on the early evening of April 27, 2024, just prior to a D.C. United soccer game, Shabazz and the victim, Martin Gross Jr., were scheduled to work at the bike valet service provided at the T and 2nd Street SW corner of Audi Field.  The two men barely knew each other. When Mr. Gross arrived very late to his shift and tried to apologize to the other valets, everyone but the defendant acknowledged Mr. Gross’s efforts.  The victim, feeling disrespect by Shabazz, began to confront Shabazz by calling him names and getting in his face.  When the bike valet owner dismissed Mr. Gross from his shift for this disruption, Mr. Gross gathered his bookbag to leave and again confronted Shabazz.  After Mr. Gross got in Shabazz’s face once again and jabbed at him with just his fists, Shabazz pulled out a sharp item, likely a knife, and stabbed Mr. Gross such that Mr. Gross fell to the ground.  As Mr. Gross laid face up on the ground, Shabazz stabbed him in the chest and then around the torso area a total of 12 times, ultimately killing him.  Shabazz was arrested on scene.   

Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jin Park.   

2024 CF1 004113 

WASHINGTON – Daveion Antonio Ervin, 28, a previously convicted felon residing in the District, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court to 27-months in prison in connection with his illegal possession of a loaded Springfield Armory pistol discovered after he was stopped by police for smoking marijuana on a public street, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.   

Ervin pleaded guilty on June 1 before U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In addition to the 27-month prison term, Judge Nichols ordered Ervin to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 33-month prison sentence.  

According to court documents, on Feb. 18, 2026, at about 8:55 p.m., U.S. Park Police officers were patrolling in the area of Dix Street at 63rd Street NE. Officers were driving west when they spotted Ervin holding a hand-rolled cigarette and exhaling a large cloud of white smoke.  

Moments later, the officers made a U-turn toward Ervin. The officers exited their cruiser, approached Ervin, and detected the strong odor of marijuana. Ervin attempted to flee the scene when officers ordered Ervin to stop. Ervin discarded the hand-rolled cigarette and continued running. After a brief foot pursuit, Ervin tripped and fell. Officers caught up with Ervin and told him to remain on the ground. When the officers asked Ervin why he ran, Ervin told the officers that he was in possession of a firearm and did not have a license to carry.   

Officers recovered a Springfield Armory XDS-9 9mm pistol from Ervin’s front waistband. It was loaded with one round in the chamber and five rounds in the magazine. Officers also recovered the remainder of Ervin’s marijuana cigarette along his flight path.   

Joining in the announcement was Chief Scott Brecht of the U.S. Park Police. 

This case was investigated by the U.S. Park Police. 

The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.   

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful supports President Trump's Executive Order that cracks down on gun violence, prioritizes federal firearms violations, pursues tougher penalties, and seeks detention for federal firearms violators.    

The firearm in the defendant’s waist prior to its recovery  

Image of the Springfield Armory 9mm XDS-9 pistol, ammunition, and partially smoked suspected marijuana cigarette. 

26cr38  

WASHINGTON – Michael Garrett, 70, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on September 11, 2026, to 25 years in prison, in D.C. Superior Court in connection with the December 3, 2021, murder of Sylvia Matthews, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Garrett pleaded guilty on March 19, 2026, before D.C. Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz to one count of second-degree murder while armed. Garrett attempted to withdraw his guilty plea, but that request was denied by Judge Kravitz. In addition to the 25-year prison sentence, Judge Kravitz ordered Garrett to serve five years of supervised release. 

“Ms. Matthews deserved safety, dignity, and peace—rights that Michael Garrett repeatedly stole from her," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "Especially given the fact that a prior judge gave Garrett compassionate release from prison on another assault charge against her, which allowed him the opportunity to come out and kill Sylvia. Nothing will bring back Sylvia, but today’s sentence delivers a measure of justice and ensures the defendant will no longer pose a threat to anyone in our community.”

According to court documents, on December 3, 2021, Ms. Matthews contacted 911 after Garrett broke windows in her home and her car window after trying to enter her home.  MPD officers responded twice and Garrett was no longer on scene.  At approximately 11:20 am, a 911 call was received for Ms. Matthews’ address for a burglary in progress. Officers were dispatched to the scene for a third time.  After speaking with a witness who told them Ms. Matthews was being held hostage, MPD officers entered the residence through a rear door. Once inside, officers located Ms. Matthews at the bottom of the basement stairs with severe head trauma.  First responding officers located Garrett in the basement, after seeing a blood trail from the victim. He was taken into custody at that time.  

Ms. Matthews was taken to the hospital where she died from her injuries. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Ms. Matthews died from blunt force injuries and ruled her death a homicide. 

Garrett has a long history of assaultive and threatening behavior toward Ms. Matthews. Garrett was released in March 2021 following a Compassionate Release motion after serving a 20+ year sentence in a case where he assaulted Ms. Matthews and broke into her same home. The government opposed the release citing the defendant’s previous abuse of the victim. 

Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department.  The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natalie Hynum and Emma McArthur. 

2021 CF1 006899

WASHINGTON – Today, Steven A. Price, 70, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 24 months in prison for conspiring to defraud D.C. Medicaid of $3.4 million, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

            “Fraud against taxpayer‑funded programs will not be ignored, excused, or allowed to persist in the dark," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "Mr. Price is going to prison and is ordered to pay $3.4 million in restitution. The days when individuals could hide behind complex billing schemes to steal from the American taxpayer are over. My office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who abuse the public’s trust and ensure they are held fully accountable.” 

            In March 2026, after a 6-week trial overseen by District Judge Amit P. Mehta, a federal jury found Price guilty of 21 counts including charges of conspiracy. health care fraud, false statements, and wire fraud. In addition to Price’s prison sentence of 24 months followed by 36 months of supervised release, the Court ordered Price to pay restitution of $3.4 million to D.C. Medicaid and entered a criminal forfeiture money judgment. The government requested a 108-month prison term. Moore is scheduled to be sentenced by the Court on October 23, 2026. 

            Price is a dentist who operated the Washington Smile Center in Northwest Washington. His codefendant, Keidi Moore, 40, was employed at the Washington Smile Center as a dental hygienist and was also found guilty by the jury. 

            According to court papers, Price and Moore treated many elderly and disabled patients. Beginning in January 2017 and continuing through March 2022, Price and Moore conspired to defraud D.C. Medicaid by filing fraudulent claims for clinical crown lengthening and space maintainers, when in fact the patients had not received the procedures or devices.  Price and Moore included the false claims alongside procedures during actual patient visits. D.C. Medicaid paid out more than $3.4 million for the fraudulent claims. In some instances, patients were alleged to have been provided more than 30 clinical crown lengthening procedures and more than 20 space maintainers during the relevant period. As soon as D.C. Medicaid put in a pre-authorization requirement for the clinical crown lengthening procedure the false billing for both types of claims stopped. 

            “Today’s sentencing underscores our unwavering commitment to serving the American people, safeguarding taxpayer money, and preserving the integrity of the federal health care programs that support them,” said Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “Such schemes waste public funds and undermine trust in the Medicaid program. HHS-OIG, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will continue efforts to identify and hold accountable individuals who exploit federally funded health care programs for personal benefit.” 

            Joining in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Matthew Wilcoxson, Interim Inspector General for the District of Columbia. 

            The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The District Department of Health Care Finance’s Division of Program Integrity referred this matter and provided assistance during the investigation. 

            The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Lucas and Sarah Ranney.  

            On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.   

23cr122 

WASHINGTON – Isaiah Pushia-Keith, 26, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Pushia-Keith pleaded guilty before Judge Reggie B. Walton to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. Judge Walton scheduled sentencing for March 17, 2027.  

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police officers responded to a report of an assault in the vicinity of 214 Jefferson Street NW on May 10, 2025. A woman met officers and reported Pushia-Keith assaulted her and that she had left her phone at the location of the assault. The woman was able to track the location of her phone, which led police to a Safeway at 3830 Georgia Avenue NW. There, Pushia-Keith was located and detained by law enforcement. The defendant informed officers that he had the woman’s phone. The defendant was wearing a black cross-body satchel, and he confirmed to police that he was carrying a ghost gun with no serial number. Officers retrieved the firearm and removed the loaded 12-round, high-capacity magazine containing six live rounds. 

Photograph of the satchel bag containing the firearm and magazine. The magazine was detached from the magazine well and protruding from the bag in this photograph. 

Photographs of the firearm with the parts of a machine gun conversion device removed from inside the satchel. 

Pushia-Keith has a previous 2024 felony conviction in Alexandria, VA, making it unlawful for him to possess any firearm.  

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department.  

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Travis Wolf and Charles Klug.  

25-cr-0196 

WASHINGTON – Dajuane Goode, 25, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in connection with his possession of fentanyl in the 900 block of Franklin Street in Northeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“Trafficking fentanyl, a lethal poison, is inherently dangerous, but combining bulk narcotics with armed carjacking shows a reckless contempt for public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We will not allow violent drug traffickers to treat D.C. as their personal escape route or poison our community with their deadly narcotics. Today’s plea ensures Dajuane Goode will be held accountable for the chaos he created.” 

Goode pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to unlawful possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Goode also pleaded guilty to carjacking in a separate case (26-cr-17). The Honorable Dabney L. Friedrich, who accepted the plea, scheduled sentencing for February 26, 2027.  

According to plea documents, on February 13, 2024, Goode contacted the victim to meet him in Southeast D.C.  When the victim arrived in a vehicle, Goode got into the passenger seat, unzipped his jacket and pointed a gun at the victim.  Two other individuals came over to the car and pointed guns at the victim.  Goode and the other individuals forced the victim into the trunk of the car and then Goode got into the driver’s seat and drove off.  The victim was ultimately able to open the emergency release from the trunk and dive out of the trunk while Goode was still driving the car. 

Further, on May 28, 2024, Goode was driving a 2023 Gray BMW X3 bearing Virginia tag, in Maryland, when he was spotted by an officer with the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD). This vehicle was identified as the suspect vehicle from an armed robbery that happened on May 11, 2024. The officer activated his emergency lights and sirens and tried to stop the defendant, but the defendant fled. PGPD had a helicopter activated and positioned overhead and were authorized to pursue the vehicle as it entered the District of Columbia. The vehicle came to a stop in the 900 block of Franklin Street NE. The defendant got out of the driver’s door and fled on foot towards the area of 12th and Jackson Streets NE. While the defendant ran, footage from the helicopter camera showed him clutching a dark object under his right arm. 

During his flight, Goode entered the south alley behind the 900 block of Evarts Street NE and began jumping over residential fences. The defendant eventually entered the rear yard of 913 Evarts Street NE and threw two items over the fence into the yard next door—911 Evarts Street NE. He threw one item, regrouped, and then threw a second item. The defendant continued his flight and hid in the rear of 2624 10th Street NE. The officer found the defendant there, and tried to detain him, but the defendant continued running. Goode eventually tried to jump over a fence in the alley behind 10th Street NE, but the officer caught up to him and tried to detain him. The defendant threw the officer to the ground and ran back towards Evarts Street. The defendant was ultimately apprehended after jumping over a small fence into a gulch outside of an apartment building at 2607 Reed Street NE (across the alley from the yards he ran into on Evarts Street NE during the earlier part of his flight). 

                                                              The pills and the bag recovered from the yards in Evarts Street, NE.

The case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office with valuable assistance from the DEA and the Prince George’s County Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney.  

25-cr-00329