Keith Jones, known on the streets as “Chief” and a member of the pronounced No Rats Allowed crew, has entered a guilty plea to charges of fentanyl trafficking and illegal firearm possession, federal officials reported on Monday. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, Jones, 27, admitted to distributing over 40 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and to being a felon in possession of a gun and ammo. The sentencing is set for June 10, 2024, and Jones could be looking at a mandatory minimum of five years behind bars.
The plea comes after extensive efforts to crack down on drug traffickers in Washington D.C. Local neighbors probably couldn't help but to notice the young crew's presence on the 200 block of K Street, Southwest, where they were known to loiter with heavy artillery and wads of cash. Authorities say these young men used local houses as storage for their illegal stockpile, with "NO RATS ALLOWED" or "N.R.A." emblazoned on their clothing, signaling their allegiance to the crew. Based on further investigation, they determined that Jones, among others, relied on social media platforms to spread their illicit trade, garnering attention from individual buyers and even fellow crew members.
In a report obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, authorities discovered through Jones’ Instagram and cell phone evidence of his involvement in drug sales, including fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills. Despite warnings about the lethal potential of the pills he peddled, Jones continued to distribute them, revealing a chilling disregard for the safety of his customers.
The end of the road for Jones came on October 28, 2023, when, after a foot chase with the Metropolitan Police Department officers, he pitched a firearm inside the Capitol Park Plaza Apartments, causing it to fire and almost hit two security guards. This event, coupled with his digital footprints, were last nails to close his case, leading to his arrest and subsequent guilty plea. The FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, along with Metropolitan Police Department officers, took credit for the bust, which assistant U.S. Attorney Justin F. Song is now prosecuting.
