Jeanine Pirro’s First Month as U.S. Attorney Brings Major Arrests, Drug Ring Sentencing, and Violent Crime Crackdown
In her first month as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro is making headlines for all the right reasons. Promising to restore order in Washington, D.C., Pirro has already announced a wave of major arrests and convictions targeting violent offenders, drug traffickers, and federal criminals.
On Thursday, Pirro revealed that two men—Jamiek “Onion” Bassil, 32, and Charles “Cheese” Manson, 34—were sentenced to 135 and 175 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a major fentanyl and crack cocaine trafficking operation. The pair also faced charges related to a violent March 2024 shooting in Northeast D.C.
Pirro stated the two men were active members of the “21st and Vietnam” crew, which operated an open-air drug market in the 2100 block of Maryland Avenue NE. They distributed fentanyl, crack cocaine, and other illicit substances throughout the city.
Charles Manson was also involved in a March 7, 2024, shooting on I Street NE, the same block where he lived. According to Pirro, Manson donned a ski mask and fired multiple shots at a pedestrian walking a dog. Thankfully, no one was injured. When authorities arrested Manson eight days later, they recovered a loaded Glock 17, over 50 grams of fentanyl analogue, cocaine, and other paraphernalia from his residence.
Bassil, meanwhile, admitted to selling up to 80 grams of fentanyl to undercover officers over several months. He also distributed other banned substances in what Pirro described as a “deliberate and dangerous operation.”
The sentences mark a firm warning from Pirro’s office, which has wasted no time signaling a return to law and order in the capital.
“This is just the beginning,” said a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “Criminal networks operating in the District should expect intense scrutiny and swift prosecution under Jeanine Pirro’s leadership.”
In addition to Thursday’s announcement, Pirro’s office has recently highlighted several high-profile cases:
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A mother convicted of felony murder in the death of her 16-month-old daughter.
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A man arrested for homicide inside a D.C. jail.
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Another man convicted of kidnapping and strangulation.
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A suspect charged with murdering a woman and dumping her body.
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A convicted felon sentenced to nearly six years in prison for firearm possession.
Another major case involved Taylor Taranto, a 39-year-old man from Washington state. Taranto livestreamed threats involving explosives and firearms near federal sites in Maryland and Virginia. Found guilty on multiple charges including illegal possession of weapons and spreading false information, Taranto awaits sentencing.
Pirro’s early weeks in office show a clear pattern: high-impact arrests, swift prosecutions, and a sharp focus on violent and organized crime. As D.C. grapples with public safety concerns, Jeanine Pirro appears determined to make her mark.
