News

Dereon Butler, 18, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to charges related to an armed robbery spree in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, in December 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Richard Cunningham, 55, a former D.C. Housing Authority employee turned real estate developer residing in the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with a scheme to defraud private mortgage lenders of more than $15 million, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Michael Owens, 38, of St. Charles, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison in connection with his role in a multi-year conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine in the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Ricardo Anton Koonce, 35, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison in connection with a bicoastal marijuana distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Abdul Fields, 30, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in connection with firing a gun at a vehicle in Northwest during the early morning hours of March 24, 2025, and to possessing a loaded firearm on the evening of Nov. 19, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

During “Disruption Week,” the private sector took voluntary action to interrupt millions of social media, email, and internet access accounts used by transnational organized crime actors in Southeast Asia that were being used to defraud Americans, and the government shared information which enabled private sector actors to voluntarily freeze over $3.8 million in cryptocurrency involved in laundering of funds stolen from Americans. The Department’s Scam Center Strike Force convened in-person meetings in Washington from May 18 to May 21 with foreign government officials and private industry

Michael Augment, 38, of Lorton, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 81 months in prison in connection with conspiring to distribute fentanyl in the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

George Carr, 24, a convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for his participation in the armed robbery of a Washington beauty supply store, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Daveion Antonio Ervin, 28, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in connection with his illegal possession of a loaded Springfield Armory pistol discovered after he was stopped by police for smoking marijuana on a public street, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Ronnie Bookhardt, 64, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today for the arson of a residential apartment building, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Alvin Ponson, 67, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with the armed robberies of two fast-food restaurants in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.