Charles Cunningham, 59, and Tyrone Ragland, 57, both from the District of Columbia, were each sentenced to 15 years in prison for their involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The conspiracy involved distributing large amounts of PCP, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine throughout the Washington metropolitan area. Both men also faced charges related to illegal firearm possession in connection with their drug activities. The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Cunningham pleaded guilty on May 7 to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon with an enhanced sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act. He received a 180-month prison term and three years of supervised release from U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb.
Ragland, also known as “Tech,” pleaded guilty on the same day to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram of PCP. Judge Cobb sentenced him to a 180-month prison term and five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, evidence collected through controlled purchases and wiretaps showed that co-defendant Melvin Grayson distributed PCP, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin in the region. Ragland and Cunningham conspired with Grayson and others to distribute these narcotics. Law enforcement recovered six firearms, more than 2.5 kilograms of PCP, over 100 grams of fentanyl, and about $50,000 in cash during searches at various residences.
On January 11, 2023, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Cunningham’s residence on 13th Street NE. They found over 1,500 grams of PCP, more than 50 grams each of cocaine and crack cocaine, over 270 grams of fentanyl, as well as a loaded Glock handgun stored next to packaged drugs intended for distribution. Cunningham kept bulk quantities of PCP and fentanyl at his home for redistribution among his co-conspirators.
That same day agents searched two residences linked to Ragland: his Eastern Ave SW apartment contained dozens of glass vials used for distributing PCP along with cell phones and a digital scale; another residence on 6th Street SW had a firearm hidden between the mattress and headboard along with approximately 626 grams of PCP, 41 grams of cocaine, and $16,230 in cash.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Washington Field Office Cross Border Task Force—part of the Safe Streets Initiative targeting violent street crews—and the DEA Washington Division. Additional support came from MPD’s Violent Crime Suppression Division and Prince George’s County Police Department; further assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland as well as the Baltimore/Washington High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar R. Mohanty and Iris Y. McCranie prosecuted this case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
“There is no higher priority than protecting our community from those who traffic dangerous drugs while armed,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
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