United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia

11/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/15/2024 11:29

Kennedy Street Drug Gang Member Sentenced to 220 Months for Trafficking Fentanyl While Armed

Press Release

Kennedy Street Drug Gang Member Sentenced to 220 Months for Trafficking Fentanyl While Armed

Friday, November 15, 2024
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia
The KDY Crew Operated Open-Air Drug Markets in Northwest Washington D.C.

WASHINGTON - David Penn, 31, of Washington D.C. and a member of the violent Kennedy Street Crew (KDY), was sentenced today to 220 months in federal prison for his role in a massive drug trafficking organization that operated open-air markets in Northwest Washington D.C. where he dealt copious amounts of fentanyl and cocaine base and sold firearms, including an assault rifle.

The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Washington Division, ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives - Washington Division, and Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Field Office.

Penn, aka "Turtle," pleaded guilty on June 27, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and to two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell ordered Penn to serve five years of supervised release.

According to court documents, KDY members operated open-air drug markets on an 11-block stretch of Kennedy Street in Northwest Washington, D.C., as well as surrounding streets. Like many drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), KDY armed itself with fire power to facilitate the drug trade and defend its territory from rival crews.

For his part, Penn was a bulk fentanyl supplier who trafficked narcotics and firearms in the Kennedy Street Neighborhood while armed with guns. During a span of five months, from December 2022 to May 2023, Penn conducted 17 controlled buys with undercover officers selling a total of about 257.73 grams of fentanyl, 11.15 grams of cocaine base, and semi-automatic firearms that included a Draco and an AR-15 assault rifle.

On February 3, 2023, patrol officers in the 900 block of Kennedy Street NW stopped Penn's vehicle wherein they found about 44 grams of fentanyl, 11 grams of cocaine base, 1.4 kilograms of marijuana, digital scales, one 22-round extended magazine with 22 rounds of ammunition; and one loaded machine gun.

On February 23, 2023, wholly undeterred by his recent arrest, Penn agreed to sell an undercover officer a privately manufactured AR-15 assault rifle for $3,800.

This investigation was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. 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 case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the DEA's Washington Division, ATF's Washington Field Division, with assistance from FBI's Washington Field Office, and the IRS-Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C. Office.

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey and Sitara Witanachchi, of the of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

<_o3a_p>

DEFENDANTS

<_o3a_p>

NAME

AGE

CHARGES

Kenneth Ademola Olugbenga 27 Pleaded Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or more of Cocaine Base, and a Detectable Amount of Marijuana; and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.
Khali Ahmed Brown, aka "Migo Lee" 22 Pleaded Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana and 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl and Oxycodone; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense; and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
Miasiah Jamal Brown, aka "Michael Jamal Crawford" 21 Sentenced August 16, 2024, to Five Years for Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
Tristan Miles Ware, aka "Greedy" 23 Pleaded Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilos of Marijuana; and Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime.
Herman Eric-Bibmin Signou, aka "Herman Signour" 23 Sentenced March 22, 2024, to 40 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 100 Kilograms of More of Marijuana
Cameron Xavier Reid 26 Sentenced May 31, 2024, to Five Years for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms of More of Marijuana.
Aaron DeAndre Mercer, aka "Curby," 27 Sentenced September 13, 2024, to 120 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, Marijuana, and Cocaine Base.
David Penn, aka "Turtle" 31 Sentenced November 15, 2024, to 220 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, 40 Grams or Fentanyl, and a Mixture of Cocaine Base; and Two Counts of Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.
Ronald Lynn Dorsey, aka "Ron G" and "HBGeezy" 29 Sentenced September 13, 2024, to 30 Months for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
Antonio Reginald Bailey, aka "Boy Boy," and "Fellow King" 22 Sentenced February 8, 2024, to 24 Months for Receiving a Firearm While Under Indictment.
Anthony Trayon Bailey, aka "Fat Ant," and "Bizzle" 27 Sentenced April 26, 2024, to 15 months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana, 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, and a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Cocaine Base.
Angel Enrique Suncar, aka "Coqui" 29 Pleaded Guilty to Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime.
Warren Lawrence Fields, III, aka B-Dub 26 Sentenced May 16, 2024 to Five Years for Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Offense and for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
Adebayo Adediji Green 30 Sentenced August 16, 2024, to Five Years for Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

Defendant Cameron Reid is from Falmouth, VA; all remaining defendants are from Washington, D.C.

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

Updated November 15, 2024
Topics
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses
Violent Crime
Press Release Number:24-931