U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Wednesday announced federal indictments against 14 people accused of running a crack and cocaine distribution ring that authorities say operated near an elementary school in the District. Prosecutors framed the case as part of a broader push to clamp down on street-level drug dealing across Washington.
Pirro was scheduled to lay out the charges at a 2 p.m. press conference alongside FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox, interim D.C. Chief of Police Jeffery Carroll and DEA Special Agent in Charge Christopher Goumenis, according to WJLA. The station reported that the U.S. Attorney's Office circulated a news release previewing the bust and the scope of the investigation.
What prosecutors say
According to the office's news release, the alleged crack and cocaine operation was based near an elementary school, and 14 defendants now face federal charges, WJLA reported. Officials from federal and local agencies were expected to walk through the allegations and take questions from reporters at the briefing.
What the law says
Federal law ramps up penalties for drug crimes committed in or within 1,000 feet of a school or on a playground. The statute, 21 U.S.C. § 860, can double the usual statutory maximums and trigger mandatory minimum sentences. It also contains harsher penalties for repeat offenders and for those who use minors to distribute drugs near schools, according to Cornell Law School.
Next steps
The indictments will move into the court phase next, with prosecutors expected to file detailed charging documents followed by initial appearances in federal court. Specific information about the counts, arraignments and any detention requests will surface in the court docket. Hoodline will keep an eye on public records and law enforcement updates as more details are released.
