Rayful Edmond III, one of D.C.’s most notorious drug dealers during its crack cocaine crisis in the 1980s, has died, according to multiple reports. He was 60 years old.
Edmond was arrested in April of 1989 and had been serving a sentence of life in prison without parole for drug distribution. He was transferred from prison to community confinement only five months ago and was set to be released in November of next year.
Justin A. Moore, an attorney with the law firm Stafford Moore Attorneys out of Texas, said in a post on X that he felt heartbroken to hear the news that Edmond had died.
Just got the soul crushing news that my client Rayful Edmond just passed away unexpectedly at the age of 60. I just talked to him yesterday. I am absolutely floored by this news. pic.twitter.com/fV2cXeycra
— Justin A. Moore, ESQ. (@_ja_moore) December 17, 2024
Moore described Edmond as “so full of life,” adding, “But that’s to be expected by someone who beat a life sentence.”
After his arrest, Edmond cooperated with the government for 17 years, helping them prosecute over 100 drug dealers.
During the 1980s, law enforcement said Edmond was making up to $2 million each week.
His D.C. life sentence was reduced to 20 years in 2021, and the additional 30 years came from sentencing out of Pennsylvania. However, the Bureau of Prisons said he got a sentence reduction of 288 months, which he served.
WTOP has reached out to the Bureau of Prisons for comment.
This story is breaking. Stay with WTOP for the latest.
WTOP’s Scott Gelman and Neal Augenstein contributed to this report.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
