WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Maryland man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for distributing significant quantities of liquid PCP and fentanyl on the streets of Washington, D.C. Kenneth Dawson, 47, of Oxon Hill, was sentenced on Monday in U.S. District Court to 60 months in federal custody for his role in multiple drug transactions carried out in public locations over several months in 2024.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Drug Sales Caught on Camera
According to court records, Dawson engaged in a series of drug sales between June and November 2024. He sold liquid PCP and fentanyl to both confidential informants and undercover officers, often in broad daylight near the busy intersection of 16th Street SE and Marion Barry Avenue SE, a well-trafficked area in the Anacostia neighborhood.
On June 27, 2024, Dawson was recorded selling 102 grams of liquid PCP for $800, along with $100 worth of powdered fentanyl, to a confidential informant. That transaction was just one of seven documented drug deals, all of which were monitored and recorded by law enforcement. These transactions also included the distribution of 97 fentanyl pills.
Arrest and Search Warrant
Dawson was arrested on December 13, 2024, at his home in Oxon Hill, Maryland. During the arrest, federal agents executed a search warrant and recovered additional quantities of liquid PCP, paraphernalia linked to PCP packaging and use, and a loaded high-capacity firearm magazine from inside his bedroom.
Because Dawson is legally prohibited from possessing ammunition due to prior convictions, the discovery of the firearm magazine added to the severity of the case.
Guilty Plea and Charges
On February 28, 2025, Dawson pleaded guilty to:
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One count of distribution of fentanyl
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One count of distribution of 100 grams or more of a liquid mixture containing PCP
Each count reflected his ongoing involvement in street-level drug trafficking, targeting vulnerable neighborhoods already struggling with drug-related crime.
Law Enforcement Collaboration
The investigation was a joint effort involving multiple federal and local agencies, including:
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The DEA Washington Division
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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
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The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas G. Strong and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren R. Randell, who emphasized the importance of coordinated enforcement to disrupt the sale of dangerous narcotics in D.C. communities.
Targeting Street-Level Drug Networks
Officials noted that cases like Dawson’s are part of a broader strategy to crack down on drug trafficking in neighborhoods where public safety is most at risk. By targeting individuals who distribute highly addictive substances like PCP and fentanyl, law enforcement hopes to reduce overdose deaths and dismantle local distribution networks.
“This sentence underscores our commitment to protecting communities from the harms of fentanyl and PCP,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro in a statement. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure drug dealers are held accountable.”
For more updates on federal cases and community safety, visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office or DEA websites.
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