NIMH Ep # 803 Notorious DC cocaine kingpin Rayful Edmond released from prison…

NIMH Ep # 803
Notorious DC cocaine kingpin Rayful Edmond released from prison…

The notorious gangster’s release from prison came as a bit of a surprise. As recently as last week, a judge in Pennsylvania denied Edmond’s request for a compassionate release, and two weeks ago, D.C. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan denied a request for another sentence reduction.

Edmond was convicted in 1990 of running a cocaine ring that racked up millions of dollars in sales and sent the murder rate so high the District was dubbed the “murder capital” of the nation. The crack epidemic had the District in a vice grip for years with countless murders linked to it.

In prison, Edmond became an informant

He is out now in part because he cooperated with the government after the FBI learned Edmond was making large drug deals with a Colombian cartel from a federal prison in Pennsylvania. In 1994, he flipped and became an informant.

For the next 20 years, Edmond provided information to the feds that led to the convictions of at least 100 people, court records show.

Federal prosecutors have said Edmond helped jail dozens of other drug dealers, break up distribution rings and even taught prison authorities how to better prevent trafficking inside the prison system.

His assistance previously 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 also prompted authorities to put Edmond under witness protection.

#RayfulEdmonds
#BlackCulturalNetwork