U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro Announces Major Arrests, Vows to Clean Up Washington, D.C.
Newly appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, has wasted no time making her presence felt. Sworn in earlier this month, Pirro pledged to “clean up Washington,” and her office has already announced a flurry of convictions and sentencing decisions aimed at cracking down on violent crime and drug trafficking in the nation’s capital.
In just one week, Pirro’s office confirmed multiple major developments: robbers were sentenced for kidnapping and brutally beating a woman in her home; three men were sentenced for fentanyl trafficking; a marijuana dealer who also possessed a machine gun received a 27-month prison sentence; and a father was convicted by a jury of first-degree child sexual abuse against his 12-year-old child.
Pirro’s office also reported two significant federal sentences last week related to a sweeping drug trafficking and violent crime conspiracy. According to officials, Jamiek “Onion” Bassil, 32, and Charles “Cheese” Manson, 34, both of Washington, D.C., received sentences of 135 and 175 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a criminal network that distributed fentanyl, crack cocaine, and other narcotics across Northeast D.C.
The pair were also implicated in a March 2024 shooting near 19th and I Streets Northeast, according to Pirro.
Convictions in Major Drug and Shooting Case
Pirro said that Bassil pleaded guilty on March 21 to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. On the same day, Manson pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
The two men were identified as members of the “21st and Vietnam” crew, a local drug trafficking group that operated an open-air drug market in the 2100 block of Maryland Avenue Northeast. Pirro explained that the group was responsible for maintaining control of drug distribution in the area through intimidation and violence.
Manson was identified as the gunman in a March 7, 2024, shooting in the 1900 block of I Street Northeast—the same block where he lived and was later arrested eight days after the attack.
Pirro detailed the sequence of events leading up to the shooting. According to her office, Manson had been handed a ski mask by another crew member before entering a nearby apartment complex. He later exited the building wearing the mask and carrying a revolver. Moments later, he allegedly fired several rounds at a bystander walking their dog, narrowly missing both the person and the animal.
When police arrested Manson, they recovered a Glock 17 handgun loaded with 22 rounds of 9mm ammunition, an additional pistol magazine, a box of bullets, 50 grams of fentanyl analog, 13.88 grams of cocaine, and other drug paraphernalia.
Between January and March 2024, Bassil sold up to 80 grams of fentanyl to undercover law enforcement officers on multiple occasions, Pirro said. He was also found to have distributed other controlled substances to agents as part of the broader investigation.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) warns that as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on a person’s body weight, tolerance, and previous drug use.
Pirro’s Early Tenure Marked by Aggressive Prosecution
Since taking office, Pirro has signaled that her tenure will be marked by aggressive federal prosecutions targeting violent offenders, narcotics traffickers, and public safety threats.
In another major case this week, Pirro’s office announced the conviction of a Washington state man who livestreamed threats and carried weapons illegally.
According to the Department of Justice, 39-year-old Taylor Taranto of Pasco, Washington, was found guilty by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols on several charges, including unlawful possession of two firearms without a license, illegal possession of ammunition, and spreading false information and hoaxes.
Judge Nichols will schedule Taranto’s sentencing at a later date after reviewing a defense request for pre-sentencing release.
Pirro’s office said the case stemmed from a disturbing incident on June 28, 2023, when Taranto broadcast a live video from his van near National Harbor, Maryland. In the livestream, he claimed he was “working on a detonator” and threatened to drive a car bomb into the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
He reportedly discussed targeting a neutron generator on the NIST campus before driving across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to Alexandria, Virginia. Once there, Taranto stopped his van in the middle of the road and ran from the vehicle, apparently to make it appear as though an emergency situation was unfolding.
Federal authorities later apprehended Taranto without incident.
A Firm Message from the New U.S. Attorney
Jeanine Pirro, a former prosecutor and judge known for her tough-on-crime reputation, has made it clear that her focus is restoring order and accountability in the District of Columbia.
In a statement, Pirro emphasized her office’s commitment to “pursue justice without hesitation or political consideration.”
“Washington has had enough lawlessness,” Pirro said. “We will enforce the law, protect the innocent, and hold criminals fully accountable—no exceptions.”
With a string of convictions and sentences already in her first few weeks, Pirro appears intent on backing up her words with swift and decisive action.