Damien Jenkins, a 35-year-old resident of the District of Columbia, has been sentenced to 151 months in federal prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization known as the "21st and Vietnam" crew. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan from the Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, DEA Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Jenkins had pleaded guilty on February 11, 2025, to charges of conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl along with cocaine, N-n-dimethylpentalone (also known as "boot"), and phencyclidine (PCP). In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Beryl A. Howell ordered Jenkins to serve five years of supervised release.
Court documents revealed that Jenkins was part of an organization distributing narcotics such as fentanyl and cocaine in an open-air market located around the 1900 block of I Street, NE. The group used a vacant apartment as their operational base for processing and packaging drugs for redistribution. Sales were conducted at various locations including the front of the building and a rear parking lot.
Law enforcement identified Jenkins' involvement in manufacturing, packaging, and selling drugs. He admitted responsibility for handling between 1.2 to 3.9 kilos of fentanyl alongside other substances like cocaine, boot, and PCP.
An incident on March 7, 2024 involved several crew members engaging in a verbal altercation with an individual. Co-defendant Charles Manson entered the vacant apartment where Jenkins handed him a ski mask. Manson then exited with a firearm and opened fire towards the individual outside at 1919 I Street, NE.
A search warrant executed on May 15, 2024 at Jenkins' residence led law enforcement to recover multiple firearms including an AK pattern firearm, handguns from Ruger .380 caliber and Sterling Arms .22 caliber models along with weapon magazines, ammunition rounds totaling dozens and $3,342 cash.
This case was investigated by MPD alongside DEA Washington Division and FBI Washington Field Office with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Duvall and Solomon Eppel.
