Rayful Edmond

Rayful Edmond III
Born	Rayful Edmond III (1964-11-26)November 26, 1964 Washington, D.C.,U.S.
Other names	Ray, Mr.Dunbar
Criminal status	Undisclosed federal prison
Conviction(s)	(1) Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, under 21 U.S.C. §§ 848(b), 853 (Count One); (2) Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of cocaine base, under 21 U.S.C. § 846 (Count Two); (3) Unlawfully employing a person under 18 years of age, under 21 U.S.C. § 845b (Count Five); (4) Interstate travel in aid of racketeering, under 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a) (Count Eleven); (5) Unlawful use of a communications facility, under 21 U.S.C. § 843(b) (Counts Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, and Eighteen). On September 17, 1990, the District Court imposed sentences of mandatory life without parole on Count One, life without parole on Counts Two and Five, 60 months on Count Eleven, and 48 months on Counts Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, and Eighteen. Edmond's sentences were to run concurrently.
Criminal charge	Original 43-count indictment charging various drug crimes, and charged with running a Continuing Criminal Enterprise involving at least 150 kilograms ofcocaineand at least 1.5 kilograms of cocaine base
Penalty	Life sentence with no parole
Date apprehended	April 15, 1989

Rayful Edmond III(born November 26, 1964) is an American formerdrug traffickerinWashington, D.C.in the 1980s. Edmond is largely responsible for having introducedcrack cocaineinto the Washington, D.C. area during thecrack epidemic,resulting in an escalating crime rate in the city which became known as the "murdercapital of the United States ".

Criminal career

Edmond was alleged to have moved large amounts of cocaine. In an indictment involving two of Edmond's associates Dwayne (D.C. Scorpio), it was said that they bought between 1,000 and 2,000 kilos per week in 1992 from the Trujillo-Blanco brothers, who were associated with theMedellin cartel,and sold the drugs to Washington area wholesalers. He was known to have spent some $457,619 in an exclusiveGeorgetownstore (Linea Pitti, specializing in Italian men's clothing) owned by Charles Wynn who was later convicted on 34 counts ofmoney laundering.Edmond's estimated revenue was approximately $300 million annually.In one year, Edmond's organization, which employed 150 people, committed 30 murders.

Remarking on Edmond, longtime D.C. mayorMarion Barrywrote in his autobiography:

He was a young, likable guy, good-looking, with a good personality, and a lot of his friends he played basketball with had no idea that he was involved in drug selling. He was basically pulled into it from his family, That doesn't make it right, but Rayful had a lot of people who liked him and were very loyal to him.

The meeting with John Thompson

Edmond was an avid fan of theGeorgetown Hoyas,and frequently sat courtside with his entourage at theCapital Centrefor home games. At the height of his empire, he became very friendly with several Hoyas players. WhenGeorgetown Universitybasketball coach (and D.C. native)John Thompsonconfirmed what was happening, he sent word through his sources to have Edmond meet him at his office atMcDonough Gymnasium.

When Edmond arrived, Thompson was initially cordial, and informed Edmond that he needed to cease all contacts with his players,specificallyJohn TurnerandAlonzo Mourning,both of whom had befriended Edmond.However, Thompson's parting words to Edmond were that Edmond would face serious consequences if he did not stay away from his players.It is believed that Thompson is the only person to stand up to Edmond without consequence,initially causing some shock and surprise that there was no reprisal against Thompson for it. However, in a memoir published posthumously in December 2020, Thompson characterized the encounter very differently, calling it very respectful. Thompson asked Rayful if he would make sure that Alonzo and John were not wrapped up in any of the illegal activity. Rayful told Thompson that he would take care of it and both men left the meeting in agreement and with respect for each other as human beings. Rayful is quoted as saying afterwards, "Coach Thompson is cool as hell".

Arrest, trial, and conviction

Edmond was arrested on April 15, 1989at the age of 24. His arrest and subsequent trial were widely covered by local and national media. Judicial officials, fearful of reprisals from members of Edmond's gang, imposed unprecedented security during the trial.Jurors' identities were kept secret before, during, and after trial, and their seating area was enclosed inbulletproof glass.The presiding judge even barred the public from the trial in an effort to protect the jury.Edmond was jailed at the maximum securityMarine Corps BrigatMarine Corps Base Quanticoin Virginia and flown to the Federal Court House in Washington, D.C. by helicopter each day for his trial. Authorities took this unusual step due to heightened fears of an armed escape attempt.

Edmond was convicted of numerous federal violations: (1) Engaging in aContinuing Criminal Enterprise,under 21 U.S.C. §§ 848(b), 853 (Count One); (2) Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms ofcocaineand more than 50 grams ofcocaine base,under 21 U.S.C. § 846 (Count Two); (3) Unlawfully employing a person under 18 years of age, under 21 U.S.C. § 845b (Count Five); (4)Interstate travel in aid of racketeering,under 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a) (Count Eleven); (5) Unlawful use of a communications facility, under 21 U.S.C. § 843(b) (Counts Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, and Eighteen).

On September 17, 1990, the District Court imposed sentences of mandatory life without parole on Count One, life without parole on Counts Two and Five, 60 months on Count Eleven, and 48 months on Counts Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, and Eighteen. Edmond's sentences were to run concurrently.

Edmond was eventually sentenced tolife in prisonwithout parole. His mother, Constance "Bootsie" Perry,was sentenced to 14 years in prison for participating in his criminal enterprise. Several of his sisters and cousins also received sentences.

Edmond continued to deal after being incarcerated in theLewisburg Federal Penitentiary,in Pennsylvania. He hooked up with Dixon Dario and Osvaldo "Chiqui" Trujillo-Blanco (son ofGriselda "Godmother" Trujillo Blanco) who shared the same cell block with him. Edmond was setting up deals between D.C. area traffickers and his Colombian connection while incarcerated. In 1996, Edmond and another drug dealer from Atlanta, named Lowe, were convicted after conducting drug business from a federal prison phone. Edmond received an additional 30-year sentence. In an interview with the Bureau of Prisons, Edmond said he had spent several hours every day on the telephone, occasionally using two lines simultaneously to conduct his drug business. Attorney GeneralEric Holdercriticized theFederal Bureau of Prisonsfor its lax management that allowed drug deals to be conducted from inside prison.

In 1996, federal authorities revealed that Edmond had become a governmentinformant.With Edmond's cooperation, the government arrested 11 alleged drug dealers working in Washington D.C. In exchange, federal prosecutors agreed to seek a reduced sentence for Edmond's mother.

Edmond is still incarcerated but is now part of theUnited States Federal Witness Protection Program.The prison where he is held has not been disclosed by the government.

In 2019, Edmond returned to D.C. for hearings on whether his life sentence should be reduced to time served based on the information he provided to authorities concerning 20 homicides. At the time, a survey by theDistrict of Columbia Attorney Generalshowed that half of D.C. residents thought Edmond should be released.In 2021, JudgeEmmet G. Sullivangranted the government's request for early release, although Edmond has a separate 30-year sentence for running his operation from prison.

On July 31, 2024, Edmond was transferred from prison to a halfway house at an undisclosed location in Kentucky or Tennessee under the supervision of the Bureau of Prisons Nashville Residential Reentry Management Office.

In popular culture

In film

• Edmond features prominently in the documentary filmThe Life of Rayful EdmondVol.1 The Rise and Fall (2005)

In music

• On his song "Can I Live" (1996), rapperJay Zsays, "No more Big Willie, my game has grown prefer you call me William Illin' for revenues, Rayful Edmond like Channel 7 News."
• RapperRick Rossmakes reference to Rayful Edmond on theMeek Millsong "Work", Ross says, "Not the Reagan Era but a nigga making cheddar Rayful Edmond in the mirror and I'm never telling."
• Rapper Rick Ross makes reference to Rayful Edmond on his song "I Think She Like Me", Ross says, "I'm Rayful Edmond mixed with young Wale Folarin."
• RapperWestside Gunnhas a song titled "Rayful's Plug" based on Edmond.
• On the song "Brains Flew By" byWestside Gunn,Gunn mentions Rayful again, saying: "Bricks on Bricks like Rayful" - Bricks being slang for cocaine
• on his song “Robert Moses” rapper Billy woods mentions Rayful with the words “Rayful Edmond iii when they need another Ricky Ross”

In print

• Rayful Edmond plays a significant role inSeth FerrantibookRayful Edmond(2013).

In television

• Rayful Edmond was featured in episode 9, season 2 ofAmerican Gangster.

External links

• RayfulatBETShows - American Gangster
• washingtonpost

• Who Was Rayful Edmond