D.C. Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Marijuana Trafficking Case
A federal judge has sentenced Ricardo Anton Koonce, 35, of the District of Columbia, to 24 months in prison for his role in what authorities described as a bicoastal marijuana distribution conspiracy. The sentence, imposed on June 3, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich, also includes a three‑year term of supervised release. Koonce, who also goes by the name “King Phew,” pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to distribute marijuana, admitting his involvement in a scheme that moved large quantities of the drug from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C.
Source note: This article is based on a public release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Guilty Plea and the Charge
On March 3, 2026, Koonce appeared before Judge Friedrich and pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Under federal law, a conspiracy charge does not require the government to prove that a defendant personally handled drugs or committed every act in the scheme; instead, it must show that there was an agreement to participate in the illegal venture and that the defendant knowingly joined that agreement. By entering a guilty plea, Koonce admitted to his role in the broader trafficking operation, which spanned at least from October 2023 through May 2024.
The plea agreement, whose details were not fully disclosed in the public release, may have involved Koonce accepting responsibility for his conduct in exchange for a more predictable sentence. Such resolutions are common in federal drug cases because they allow prosecutors to secure a conviction while sparing the government the time and expense of a trial. The charge itself, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, is a felony that can carry significant penalties depending on the quantity of drugs involved and other aggravating factors, such as the presence of firearms.
The Sentence Imposed
Federal prosecutors had requested that Koonce serve 26 months in prison, but Judge Friedrich settled on a term of 24 months. In addition to the prison time, the court ordered three years of supervised release. Supervised release is a period of federal monitoring that follows incarceration and comes with strict conditions: regular check‑ins with a probation officer, restrictions on travel and association, and prohibitions on drug use and firearm possession. Violating any of these conditions can result in a return to prison.
Although 24 months may seem modest given the scale of the operation—authorities seized more than 54 pounds of marijuana—federal sentencing is a complex process. Judges must consider multiple factors, including the defendant’s role in the offense, criminal history, and whether the defendant accepted responsibility (as Koonce did by pleading guilty). The sentence imposed reflects the individual circumstances of the case, and without full access to the presentence report and plea agreement, the precise reasoning remains known only to the parties involved.
The Trafficking Operation from Coast to Coast
According to court documents cited in the government’s announcement, Koonce and his co‑conspirators made repeated trips between the Baltimore‑Washington area and Los Angeles to purchase marijuana for distribution on the East Coast. This bicoastal pattern is a familiar one in modern drug trafficking: bulk quantities are acquired in source states where marijuana is more readily available, then transported across the country to markets where federal interdiction is a constant threat.
The organization’s hub was an apartment in the 1900 block of C Street SE in Washington, D.C. From that location, Koonce and others conducted daily hand‑to‑hand transactions consistent with street‑level drug sales, according to law enforcement observations. The apartment functioned as both a storage site and a distribution point, allowing the conspiracy to move product quickly in a densely populated urban area. The use of a residential building in a busy neighborhood also illustrates the kind of safety and quality‑of‑life concerns that such operations create for local communities.
The Airport Seizure: 54.5 Pounds of Marijuana
A critical break in the case came in February 2024, when federal agents intercepted Koonce and his associates at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) as they returned from a purchasing trip to Los Angeles. A search of luggage carried by one of Koonce’s co‑conspirators uncovered roughly 54.5 pounds of marijuana, packaged in vacuum‑sealed plastic bags—a method commonly used to mask the drug’s odor and evade detection during transit.
The interception at BWI highlighted how federal law enforcement leverages airport security and intelligence to disrupt trafficking routes. Air travel is a high‑risk method for moving controlled substances because of screening procedures, but traffickers sometimes attempt it when shipping large quantities by parcel or vehicle may be equally risky. In this instance, the seizure provided concrete evidence of the conspiracy’s scale and directly tied the co‑conspirators to the interstate importation of marijuana.
Search Warrants and Additional Evidence
On October 30, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at two locations: the C Street SE apartment and Koonce’s residence on the 700 block of 2nd Street NE in Washington, D.C. At the apartment, agents recovered additional marijuana, other narcotics, and several firearms. At Koonce’s home, they found two Glock pistols, magazines and ammunition, approximately $53,569 in cash, and a quantity of marijuana.
Koonce admitted that he possessed the firearms in connection with his role in the marijuana trafficking conspiracy. The cash, nearly $54,000, is typical of a drug operation’s proceeds and raises further questions about the total financial scope of the conspiracy—though the public release did not provide a detailed accounting. The simultaneous recovery of drugs, money, and guns from the two locations strengthened the government’s case and underscored the seriousness of the venture.
The Firearms Connection
Federal law treats the intersection of drugs and firearms with particular gravity. While the public release does not indicate that Koonce was charged with a separate weapons offense—such as a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), which carries mandatory consecutive prison time—the presence of handguns and ammunition is still a significant aggravating factor in any drug conspiracy sentencing. Koonce’s admission that he kept the Glocks in connection with his trafficking role could have influenced both the government’s sentencing recommendation and the judge’s final decision.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro addressed this point directly in the announcement: “Koonce and his co‑conspirators ran a systematic drug trafficking operation, making repeated cross‑country trips to stock a D.C. stash house and selling marijuana on the streets while armed with firearms. We will not allow armed traffickers to endanger our neighborhoods, and anyone who treats this city as their drug marketplace will be held accountable.” Her statement reflects the Department of Justice’s stated policy of prioritizing cases that involve violence or the threat of violence, even when the underlying drug is marijuana.
The Investigation: DEA and FBI Collaboration
The case was investigated jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. This dual‑agency approach is common in federal drug cases that cross state lines and involve organized criminal activity. The DEA brings expertise in narcotics enforcement and supply‑chain disruption, while the FBI contributes broader investigative resources, including surveillance and intelligence gathering.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nihar Mohanty and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Isabelle Sun. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes committed in the nation’s capital, and it often collaborates with federal law enforcement agencies to build cases like this one. The successful outcome—a guilty plea and a prison sentence—demonstrates how inter‑agency cooperation can produce a case that ends without a trial.
What the Public Should Know About Sentencing in Drug Conspiracy Cases
In federal drug cases, the sentence is driven by a combination of statutory penalties and the U.S. sentencing considerations. Although the guidelines are advisory, most federal judges still calculate a guideline range and consider it alongside other factors. For a marijuana conspiracy, the base offense level is tied to the weight of the marijuana involved; here, the 54.5 pounds seized would alone generate a significant base level, but adjustments for the defendant’s role, acceptance of responsibility, and any aggravating circumstances—such as the presence of firearms—can move the range up or down.
Because Koonce pleaded guilty and, presumably, provided some level of cooperation or at least avoided trial, he may have received a reduction for acceptance of responsibility. The three‑year supervised release term is standard for many drug felony convictions and ensures that the defendant remains under federal supervision after prison. The public should understand that a sentence of 24 months is not a declaration that the offense was minor; rather, it is the result of a calibrated process that weighs many variables, only some of which are publicly known.
Unresolved Questions
The public release leaves several questions unanswered. It does not name or describe the status of the co‑conspirators who traveled with Koonce and participated in the sales. It is unclear whether any of them have been charged, pleaded guilty, or are still under investigation. The release also does not specify what the “other narcotics” found at the stash apartment were, nor does it provide details about the disposition of the seized cash or firearms beyond their recovery.
Additionally, the public filing does not elaborate on how law enforcement initially identified the conspiracy—whether through a tip, a separate investigation, or intelligence from airport screening. These details may emerge in subsequent court filings, sentencing memoranda, or additional press releases as the case against any remaining defendants moves forward. For now, the available information offers a clear but incomplete picture of a trafficking ring that federal authorities say operated for at least seven months.
The Broader Context: Marijuana, Federal Law, and Public Safety
Despite the legalization of marijuana for medical or recreational use in many states, the drug remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. This means that large‑scale, interstate trafficking operations like the one Koonce participated in remain illegal and subject to federal prosecution. The Department of Justice has not always prioritized marijuana cases, but it continues to target networks that involve firearms, violence, or significant quantities moved across state lines.
The C Street SE stash house operated in a residential area, and daily drug sales can erode neighborhood safety, attract additional criminal activity, and reduce quality of life for residents. Federal authorities often point to these community impacts when explaining why they dedicate resources to drug cases that might seem less serious than opioid or fentanyl trafficking. The presence of loaded firearms in both the stash apartment and Koonce’s home added a layer of danger that may have influenced the investigation’s intensity and the prosecution’s approach.
This case also illustrates the practical realities of federal drug enforcement. Agents must build a case over months, using surveillance, travel records, and informants before executing searches and making arrests. The February 2024 airport seizure was a pivotal moment, but it was the culmination of earlier investigative work. The eventual resolution—a guilty plea and a prison sentence—shows how the system processes such conspiracies while respecting the rights of the accused.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Ricardo Anton Koonce charged with and what was his sentence?
Koonce was charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana, a federal felony. He pleaded guilty on March 3, 2026, and was sentenced on June 3, 2026, to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
How much marijuana was involved in the conspiracy?
In February 2024, agents seized about 54.5 pounds of marijuana from luggage at BWI Airport. Additional amounts were recovered during search warrants at the stash apartment and Koonce’s home. The conspiracy involved multiple cross‑country trips to acquire marijuana for distribution.
Why were firearms linked to this drug trafficking case?
During searches, law enforcement found several firearms at the stash apartment and two Glock pistols at Koonce’s residence. Koonce admitted that he possessed the firearms in connection with his role in the marijuana trafficking conspiracy. The presence of firearms in a drug operation raises public safety concerns and can influence charging and sentencing decisions.
How did law enforcement uncover the operation?
The investigation, led by the DEA and FBI, included surveillance of the co‑conspirators’ travel and activities. A key development was the February 2024 interception at BWI Airport, where 54.5 pounds of vacuum‑sealed marijuana were found. Later search warrants at the apartment and Koonce’s home yielded further evidence, including additional drugs, cash, and firearms.
What happens after Koonce completes his prison term?
Upon release, Koonce will begin a three‑year term of supervised release. During this period, he must comply with conditions set by the court, such as reporting to a probation officer, not committing new crimes, and avoiding drug use and firearm possession. Failure to comply can result in a return to prison.
Sources
This article is based on public information released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and has been independently rewritten, summarized, and contextualized by Shadab Chow News. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FBI, the Department of Justice, any court, or any government agency. It may be updated as more confirmed information becomes available.