Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
WASHINGTON – Law enforcement arrested 10 members of a District-area drug trafficking crew charged in a 17-count indictment with participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, as well as multiple firearms counts.
The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Washington Division, Special Agent in Charge Troy Springer of the National Capital Region of the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Law enforcement executed search warrants, yesterday, for 21 residences, nine vehicles, and 14 individuals in the District and Maryland and seized nearly two dozen firearms as part of the operation.
Each defendant is charged in a conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a protected location, specifically Phelps ACE High School and AppleTree Early Learning Public Charter School in Northeast Washington D.C. Two of the defendants, Charles Manson and Damien Jenkins, were also charged in connection with a shooting that occurred on March 7, 2024, near 19th and I Streets NE. For that incident, Manson was additionally charged with possession of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The defendants, who all reside in Washington D.C., include:
|
NAME |
AGE |
AKA |
CHARGES |
|
Jamiek Bassil
|
31 |
“Onion”
|
Conspiracy to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl Within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location; Distribution of 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl x 5
|
|
Damien Jenkins |
34 |
“Woe”
|
Conspiracy to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl and Cocaine Base Within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location; Distribution of 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl x 3; Assault with a Deadly Weapon
|
|
Trevon Palmer |
29 |
“Rocky”
|
Conspiracy to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl and Cocaine Base Within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location; Distribution of 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl x 3; Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine
|
|
Charles Manson
|
33 |
“Cheese” |
Conspiracy to Distribute 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl and Cocaine Base Within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location; Possession of Ammunition by a Felon; Assault with a Deadly Weapon; Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence or Dangerous Offense
|
|
Van Robinson
|
32 |
“Boogie” |
Conspiracy to Distribute 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl and Cocaine Base Within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location
|
|
Nathaniel Russell
|
20 |
“Thump” |
Conspiracy to Distribute 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl Within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location x 4; Distribution of 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl x 3
|
|
Briyon Shuford
|
29 |
“Breezy” |
Conspiracy to Distribute 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl and Cocaine Base Within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location
|
|
Lydell Douglas
|
40 |
“L” |
Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine Base Within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location
|
|
Jerome Powell
|
26 |
“J Rock” |
Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location
|
|
Jason Green |
47 |
— |
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base Within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location |
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This investigation was a multi-agency effort between the Violent Crime Investigations Team of the Violent Crime Suppression Division of the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI Washington Field Office’s Cross-Border Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division, and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Duvall and Solomon Eppel of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses (VRTO) Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.