20 arrested – Twenty people were arrested Wednesday in a large law enforcement operation targeting an alleged drug trafficking network operating near Hendley Elementary School in Southeast Washington, where prosecutors say crack cocaine sales occurred within 1,000 feet of c
By the time the arrests were made on Wednesday, the case had already been measured in distance—less than 1,000 feet from Hendley Elementary School in Southeast Washington.
Authorities said 20 people were arrested during a large-scale law enforcement operation targeting an alleged drug trafficking network operating near the school. The FBI. working alongside the Metropolitan Police Department and other law enforcement partners. executed 19 search warrants as part of an investigation into suspected crack cocaine distribution in the Washington Highlands neighborhood.
The operation centered around the area of Fourth and Chesapeake streets SE, authorities said. They said it was located less than 1,000 feet from the elementary school.
Law enforcement agencies credited with assisting the investigation included those in Fairfax County, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.
At a news conference, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro displayed surveillance images that she said showed alleged drug transactions happening near children. In one image, she circled what she said was a cocaine sale.
“Right here we have circled the actual sale of cocaine,” Pirro said while describing one image. “Within a few feet is a five-year-old child. This woman, after she buys the cocaine, takes this child by the hand and walks away.”
Pirro said there is currently no child endangerment law she can use to prosecute the woman shown in the image for involving a child near the alleged drug deal. She said she plans to send a letter to the D.C. Council urging lawmakers to consider changing the law.
During the operation, authorities said investigators recovered multiple firearms and fentanyl equivalent to approximately 6,200 potentially deadly doses.
Prosecutors said some of the defendants could face life in prison if convicted, while others face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years.
Pirro said cocaine has historically fueled more crime in the District than any other drug. She also said her office intends to seek enhanced sentences because the alleged drug sales occurred so close to an elementary school.
The investigation remains ongoing.
FBI Metropolitan Police Department Hendley Elementary School Fourth and Chesapeake streets SE Washington Highlands alleged crack cocaine surveillance images Jeanine Pirro child endangerment law fentanyl equivalent firearms D.C. Council mandatory minimum sentences
So sad that this happened right by a school… but 20 arrested sounds like not enough.
I thought the big issue was crack, but they’re also talking fentanyl equivalents like that’s the same thing? Either way why are they showing surveillance photos like it’s a movie. And yeah if there’s no child endangerment law then what are we doing.
Wait, the article said she “takes this child by the hand” like it’s proof proof… but then says no child endangerment law to prosecute. That’s kinda wild. So like they can arrest for crack but not for the kid part? Seems backwards.
Jeanine Pirro shows pictures and circled something and now it’s all set? I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but “within 1,000 feet” is such an arbitrary measurement. Like if they were a block away is it suddenly legal? Also where were the parents, schools, all of that. And 6,200 doses… man.