In a significant strike against local drug operations, two Washington, D.C. men, Charles Cunningham, 59, and Tyrone Ragland, 57, have been handed down 15-year prison sentences for their involvement in a substantial drug trafficking ring. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced the sentencing, following the pair's guilty pleas in a case that encompassed a wide array of illegal substances, including PCP, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack, as well as the illegal possession of firearms.
Both Cunningham and Ragland struck plea deals on May 7, before their trials were set to begin. Judge Jia M. Cobb presided over the proceedings and imposed the sentences. Cunningham, who has a prior felony conviction, admitted to unlawful firearm possession, a charge enhanced under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Ragland, known by the alias “Tech,” pleaded guilty to distributing one kilogram of PCP. Alongside their prison terms, Cobb ordered supervised release, three years for Cunningham and five years for Ragland, after completion of their incarceration.
With evidence gathered through wiretaps and controlled purchases, investigators were able to paint a damning picture of the defendants' activities. Court documents reveal that Cunningham and Ragland, with a co-defendant, Melvin Grayson, and others, operated a network disseminating narcotics across the metropolitan D.C. area. During raids on several residences, law enforcement seized six firearms, over 2.5 kilograms of PCP, more than 100 grams of fentanyl, and roughly $50,000 in cash.
In a search warrant executed on January 11, 2023, at Cunningham’s 13th Street NE residence, FBI agents uncovered an arsenal of drugs: over 1,500 grams of PCP, over 50 grams each of cocaine and crack, and over 270 grams of fentanyl. A loaded Glock 31 handgun was found in a chilling juxtaposition, nestled next to drugs ready for distribution in his oven. As for Ragland, agents raided his primary residence on Eastern Ave SW and another on 6th Street SW, finding a hidden firearm, large quantities of PCP, coke, and a sum of $16,230.
The comprehensive investigation saw cooperation from the FBI's Washington Field Office Cross Border Task Force, the DEA's Washington Division, the Metropolitan Police Department's Violent Crime Suppression Division, and other local and federal agencies.
