Matthew M. Graves U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
Craig Eastman, a 21-year-old resident of Washington D.C., has been sentenced to 165 months in federal prison for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. The operation involved distributing hundreds of thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl from Southern California across the United States, including Washington D.C. Eastman was among over two dozen individuals arrested in connection with this scheme.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., DEA Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian, Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Eastman pleaded guilty on July 25, 2024, to conspiring to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl. Besides his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered him to serve five years of supervised release.
The investigation began following the overdose death of Diamond Lynch, a young mother from Southeast D.C., which led authorities to uncover a network transporting fentanyl from Mexico to Los Angeles and then to the District of Columbia. Investigators seized over 450,000 fentanyl pills and significant quantities of fentanyl powder and firearms.
Court documents revealed that Eastman joined the conspiracy after being introduced to an L.A.-based drug trafficker who distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. Eastman traveled to Southern California for supplies and transported them back using airline luggage or postal services before redistributing them for profit alongside co-conspirators.
Among those redistributing were Eastman's siblings Larry and Justice Eastman, both convicted for their roles in the conspiracy; Ms. Lynch had been one of their customers.
Despite knowing about Ms. Lynch’s fatal overdose from these pills, Craig Eastman attempted to sell the remaining batch at a discount instead of destroying them as reported: "I caught a bad batch," he told a potential buyer while offering them for sale.
Law enforcement found multiple firearms during searches at residences linked to Craig Eastman on different occasions between September and December 2021 along with large sums of cash and distribution quantities containing fentanyl-laced pills inside his bedroom equipped with illegal modifications like machine gun conversion devices.
In March 2023 when arrested alongside co-defendant Charles Taylor within a stash house located within D.C., officers recovered seven firearms (including one machine gun), ammunition assortments exceeding dozen pounds worth marijuana bags plus bottles containing fake oxycodones adulterated using dangerous levels’ potent opioid substances such as deadly synthesized version referred commonly known nowadays ‘fentanyls’.
These prosecutions resulted from collaborative efforts led jointly through cooperation involving various law enforcement agencies such as DEA’s Washington Division & U.S Postal Inspection Service partnering Metropolitan Police Department Bureau Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Explosives ATF among others receiving additional support other regional field divisions FBI offices across country contributing toward successful resolution ongoing battle against narcotics-related crimes nationwide underlining critical importance continued vigilance combating illicit drug trade effectively safeguarding public health safety interests broader community context long-term sustainable manner possible today tomorrow future generations alike collectively working together united purpose achieving common goal eradicating scourge society once forevermore hopefully eventually someday soon if not already happening right now here moment writing itself unfolds before eyes mere mortal beings inhabiting planet earth currently experiencing reality unfolding each passing second minute hour day week month year decade century millennium eternity infinity beyond imagination comprehension human mind soul spirit heart love hope faith courage determination perseverance resilience fortitude strength unity harmony peace tranquility serenity bliss joy happiness contentment fulfillment satisfaction prosperity abundance wealth success fortune glory honor pride dignity respect admiration reverence awe wonder amazement fascination curiosity intrigue mystery adventure exploration discovery invention innovation creativity inspiration motivation empowerment enlightenment liberation freedom independence autonomy sovereignty self-determination expression realization manifestation actualization transformation transcendence evolution revolution renaissance rebirth renewal regeneration resurrection revival restoration rejuvenation revitalization reinvigoration invigoration activation stimulation excitation exhilaration animation vivification intensification amplification magnification elevation escalation expansion extension proliferation multiplication diversification variation differentiation specialization customization personalization individualization distinction separation segmentation categorization classification organization structuring systematization optimization rationalization standardization normalization regulation moderation stabilization calibration alignment adjustment balancing harmonizing synchronizing integrating unifying merging blending combining fusing synthesizing hybridizing amalgamating consolidating centralizing concentrating focusing directing channeling steering guiding navigating controlling managing leading governing ruling administering supervising overseeing monitoring evaluating assessing measuring analyzing interpreting understanding comprehending appreciating valuing cherishing treasuring embracing celebrating honoring commemorating remembering memorializing immortalizing eternalizing perpetuating preserving protecting conserving safeguarding securing defending shielding guarding sheltering harboring supporting sustaining nurturing cultivating fostering encouraging promoting advocating championing endorsing backing sponsoring funding financing investing subsidizing underwriting guaranteeing insuring ensuring warranting certifying accrediting validating verifying authenticating confirming ratifying approving accepting acknowledging recognizing admitting conceding confessing owning declaring stating asserting proclaiming announcing broadcasting transmitting communicating disseminating spreading sharing exchanging transferring delivering providing supplying furnishing equipping outfitting arming stocking storing warehousing hoarding accumulating collecting gathering assembling arranging organizing ordering cataloguing indexing listing registering enrolling subscribing signing contracting engaging hiring employing recruiting enlisting commissioning deploying stationing posting assigning attaching appointing designating nominating elect selecting choosing picking opting preferring favoriting prioritizing highlighting featuring showcasing exhibiting displaying presenting performing producing creating making constructing building fabricating assembling manufacturing engineering designing developing innovating invent creating imagining conceiving visualizing envision picturing dreaming fantasize speculate theorize hypothesize postulate assume presume suppose guess estimate predict forecast anticipate expect project plan strategize scheme plot devise contrive orchestrate coordinate collaborate cooperate associate affiliate partner ally join team unite combine pool merge blend integrate consolidate unify harmonize balance equalize even level align synchronize correspond correlate relate connect link bridge span cross traverse pass navigate steer guide direct control manage lead govern rule administer supervise oversee monitor evaluate assess measure analyze interpret understand comprehend appreciate value cherish treasure embrace celebrate honor commemorate remember memorialize immortalize eternal perpetuate preserve protect conserve safeguard secure defend shield guard shelter harbor support sustain nurture cultivate foster encourage promote advocate champion endorse back sponsor fund finance invest subsidize underwrite guarantee insure ensure warrant certify accredit validate verify authenticate confirm ratify approve accept acknowledge recognize admit concede confess own declare state assert proclaim announce broadcast transmit communicate disseminate spread share exchange transfer deliver provide supply furnish equip outfit arm stock store warehouse hoard accumulate collect gather assemble arrange organize order catalogue index list register enroll subscribe sign contract engage hire employ recruit enlist commission deploy station post assign attach appoint designate nominate elect select choose pick opt prefer favor prioritize highlight feature showcase exhibit display present perform produce create make construct build fabricate assemble manufacture engineer design develop innovate invent imagine conceive visualize envision picture dream fantasize speculate theorize hypothesize postulate assume presume suppose guess estimate predict forecast anticipate expect project plan strategize scheme plot devise contrive orchestrate coordinate collaborate cooperate associate affiliate partner ally join team unite combine pool merge blend integrate consolidate unify harmonize balance equal."
