Dozen Sentenced In Alexandria Drug Trafficking Bust

ALEXANDRIA, VA—A dozen people have been sentenced as part of Operation Purple Rain, a massive bust of drug trafficking in Alexandria.

The latest conviction was Gregory Taylor, 44, of Fort Washington, Md. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin. He is the final person to be sentenced in the bust.

The Alexandria Police Department and Virginia State Police investigated the case, and Attorney General Mark Herring and Alexandria Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter prosecuted.

""Alexandria and all of Northern Virginia are safer with these heroin dealers off the streets and behind bars," said Herring in a statement. "Heroin and opioid overdoses are taking far too many Virginians from us far too soon, and the fentanyl these rings were distributing can be deadly in microscopic doses on just the first use."

After two Alexandria heroin overdoses in 2016, investigators learned there were two criminal organizations distributing heroin in the city. 12 people were arrested and charged in March 2017. Police also seized ten guns, nearly a kilogram of schedule I or II drugs and about six pounds of marijuana.

The larger of the groups distributed heroin onto the streets. Members involved distributed large amounts of heroin to street dealers, who sold it in the city, and distributed guns to their members.

Ten of the charged individuals were identified as being members of the larger criminal group:

• Dwayne Mann, 58, of Alexandria
• Tony Mann, 57, of Alexandria
• Jacqueline McBride, 63, of Alexandria
• Ronald Morton, 40, of Clinton, Md.
• Tony Dirrell Smith, 33, of Alexandria
• Dennis Starr, 66, of Alexandria
• Albert Taylor, 64, of Alexandria
• Gregory Taylor, 44, of Fort Washington, Md.
• Tyrone Washington, 39, of Fort Washington, Md.
• Richard Williams, 65, of Alexandria

The smaller criminal group, which occasionally intertwined with the larger group, included Anthony Terry, 59, of Dumfries and Robert Hunt, 57, of Alexandria. Prosecutors say Terry and Hunt mixed their heroin with the powerful synthetic opioids, fentanyl and furanyl fentanyl. Evidence shows Terry supplied Hunt with the drugs, and Hunt distributed them in Alexandria.

The bust is a key step in addressing the opioid crisis in Alexandria. The city has seen spikes in opioid overdoses several times over the last year. Over the summer, the city said there were seven overdoses in a week—one was fatal. Last year, the city reported nine fatal overdoses and 50 non-fatal overdoses. City officials had warned of heroin mixed with extremely potent substances like fentanyl.

Here is the full list of those convicted under Operation Purple Rain:

Robert Hunt, 57, Alexandria

• Charges: Distribution of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (3 counts)
• Sentence: Concurrent sentences on each count of 25 years with 17 years suspended (eight years to serve), supervised probation for five years, good behavior for 10 years and 18 month loss of license.

Dwayne Mann, 58, Alexandria

• Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering; Conspiracy to Distribute 1KG or More of Heroin
• Sentence: Concurrent sentences on each count of 40 years with 34 years suspended (six years to serve), supervised probation for five years, good behavior for 10 years and six month loss of license.

Tony Mann, 57, Alexandria

• Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering and Conspiracy to Distribute 1KG or More of Heroin; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (Non-violent felony > 10 years)
• Sentence: Racketeering and heroin charge a concurrent sentence of 40 years with 34 years suspended (six years to serve), supervised probation for five years, good behavior for 10 years and six month loss of license. On the firearms charge, five years was suspended on the same conditions.

Jacqueline McBride, 63, Alexandria (Fairfax County)

• Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering and Conspiracy to Distribute 1KG or More of Heroin
• Sentence: Concurrent sentences on each count of 20 years with 17 years suspended (three years to serve), supervised probation for four years, good behavior for 10 years, six month loss of license.

Ronald Morton, 40, Clinton, Md.

• Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering and Conspiracy to Distribute 1KG or More of Heroin
• Sentence: Concurrent sentences on each count of 40 years with 25 years suspended (15 years to serve), supervised probation and good behavior for 10 years, six month loss of license.

Dennis Starr, 66, Alexandria

• Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Grams or More of Heroin
• Sentence: 40 years with 37 years suspended (three years to serve), supervised probation for five years, good behavior for 10 years, six month loss of license.

Albert Taylor, 64, Alexandria

• Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Conspiracy to Distribute 1KG or More of Heroin, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (Non-violent felony > 10 years)
• Sentence: On racketeering and heroin charge a concurrent sentence of 40 years with 34 years suspended (six years to serve), supervised probation for five years, good behavior for 10 years, six month loss of license. On the firearms charge, five years are all suspended on the same conditions.

Gregory Taylor, 44, Fort Washington, Md.

• Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering and Conspiracy to Distribute 1KG or More of Heroin
• Sentence: 40 years with 28 years suspended (12 years to serve), supervised probation for five years, good behavior for 10 years, six month loss of license.

Anthony Terry, 59, Dumfries

• Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl (2 counts); Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl (2 counts); Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin.
• Sentence: 18 years to serve and a $50,000 fine on each of the Conspiracy (fentanyl) counts; 20 years to serve and a $50,000 fine on each of the PWID counts; 10 years to serve and a $25,000 fine on the Conspiracy (heroin) count for a total sentence of 86 years to serve and a $225,000 fine.

Tyrone Washington, 39, Fort Washington, Md.

• Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering and Conspiracy to Distribute 1KG or More of Heroin
• Sentence: Concurrent sentences on each count of 40 years with 27 years suspended (13 years to serve), supervised probation and good behavior for 10 years, 6 month loss of license.

Richard Williams, 65, Alexandria

• Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering and Conspiracy to Distribute 1KG or More of Heroin
• Sentence: Concurrent sentences on each count of 40 years with 37 years suspended (three years to serve), supervised probation for five years, good behavior for 10 years, six month loss of license.

Tony Dirrell Smith, 33, Alexandria

• Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering and Conspiracy to Distribute 1KG or More of Heroin; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (Non-violent felony > 10 years)
• Sentence: On racketeering and heroin charge a concurrent sentence of 40 years with 36 years suspended (four years to serve), supervised probation for five years, good behavior for 10 years, six month loss of license. On the firearms charge, five years are all suspended on the same conditions.

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