U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro has announced the sentencing of three men from the District for their involvement in a narcotics trafficking operation in the Trinidad neighborhood of Northeast Washington D.C. Jalonie Hooper, Edward Frizell Williams, Jr., and Dandre Goodwine have been sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy that operated an open-air drug market.
Dandre Goodwine, also known as "Dreads," pleaded guilty on March 3 to charges related to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, fentanyl analogue, and cocaine base. Chief Judge James E. Boasberg sentenced him to 36 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Jalonie Hooper, referred to as "JR," entered a guilty plea on April 4 for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base. On July 1, Judge Boasberg sentenced Hooper to 15 months in prison along with three years of supervised release.
Edward Frizell Williams, Jr., or "Pooh," also pleaded guilty on March 3 to similar charges including heroin distribution. His sentence was set at 22 months in prison with an additional three years of supervised release by Judge Boasberg on July 1.
Court documents reveal that the crew sold approximately 468 kilograms of illegal substances including fentanyl and cocaine base around the 1100 block of Raum Street, NE during the course of their activities.
A search warrant executed on May 23, 2022, at a stash house frequently visited by Goodwine led law enforcement agents to recover firearms, digital scales with residue suspected as controlled substances, false books containing twists with white substances presumed illegal drugs, magazines, and various ammunition rounds. DNA evidence linked Goodwine's presence to a Glock handgun found at the scene.
Hooper was arrested on August 12, 2023, when Metropolitan Police Department officers discovered approximately 50 grams of cocaine base on his person during an investigation at V Street NW.
The search warrant execution also found Williams near a .40 caliber handgun outside the stash house; DNA evidence connected him to this firearm as well.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aiming to disrupt high-level drug traffickers through collaborative efforts between federal and local agencies. The investigation involved multiple agencies including DEA’s Washington Division and FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force among others.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar Mohanty and Daniel Seidel are prosecuting this case with support from Criminal Division Trial Attorneys Christina Taylor and Gaelin Bernstein.
