With the introduction of crack cocaine into his market in the mids, he had a way to reach and produce more addicts. With this sudden boom in his business, Edmond searched for a way to expand in order to supply the growing clientele list.
Butler agreed to supply Edmond with Colombian cocaine for a cheap price. This deal grew from a single shipment in to hundreds of kilos each month by This expansion helped make Edmond a multimillionaire by the time he turned By , year-old Edmond controlled roughly 60 percent of the drug trade in the District of Columbia. With this success came violence. Washington, D. Police viewed Edmond as their primary target and through a series of wiretaps, testimony, and confessions, they gained enough evidence to take him down.
On April 15, , Edmond and 28 associates were arrested, including 11 members of his family. Due to fear of an attempt by remaining crew members to break Edmonds out of jail, he was incarcerated at Quantico Marine Base forty miles away, and flown to court every day by helicopter. Jurors were also shielded by bulletproof glass at the trial and their identities were kept hidden throughout. Over witnesses testified, leading to Edmond being convicted of multiple federal violations and sentenced to four mandatory life without parole sentences.
His assistance has already resulted in the early release of his mother, Constance "Bootsie" Perry, who was sentenced to 14 years for her part in her son's operation.
It has also prompted authorities to put Edmond under witness protection and remove his name from the Bureau of Prisons public records. Mary Cheh, a D. From a legal perspective, she said, prosecutors wouldn't have made the request if Edmond's assistance hadn't been substantial. It's unsavory but sometimes it's the only way to get things done.
Skip to content. Attorney General. Free or Not? Alexandria 3 hours ago. Back to Article. Close Menu. Search for:. Edmond was charged with leading a continuing criminal enterprise, which carried a sentence of life in prison. Authorities implemented unprecedented security measures for the case. The courtroom was equipped with a bulletproof shield separating those involved from spectators. Additional bulletproof panels protected the judge and jurors, and the courtroom was ringed with U.
In addition, U. District Judge Charles R. Rather than being detained at D. Jail, Edmond was held at Quantico Marine Corps base and flown in daily by helicopter. It was media spectacle. The trial lasted 56 days. Prosecutors presented Edmond as a charismatic drug mastermind who had learned the trade from his parents at a young age. On December 6, the jury reached its decision. Rayful Edmond III was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Edmond maintained his innocence, claiming authorities were looking for someone to blame for the drug problems on the D. Government is trying to make me out to be. All 12 jurors were black. They would have gone by the law This jury never asked any questions about the law. Even me—I'm intelligent—and I studied the legal issues. I didn't understand some of it. I'm not saying they weren't intelligent.
They just weren't fair They came in too quick.
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