A D.C. man was sentenced in federal court on Friday, marking the end of a long-standing criminal enterprise that local officials say held a Northeast neighborhood in a grip of violence and drug trafficking. Van Robinson, 44, received a 101-month prison sentence for his role in the “21st and Vietnam” crew.
The group was known for distributing a wide variety of narcotics and engaging in high-profile acts of violence in the District.
Robinson, who went by the nickname “Boogie,” had previously pleaded guilty in March 2025 to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, as well as possessing a firearm to further drug trafficking. U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell also ordered Robinson to serve three years of supervised release once he completes his prison term.
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“Robinson was a key member of a crew that menaced our community around 21st Street and Maryland Avenue for years with its toxic mix of lethal drugs and random violence,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro during the announcement. “With Robinson’s sentencing today, the 21st and Vietnam crew has definitively been put out of business.”
Court records detailed a sophisticated operation where the crew staged a takeover of an apartment complex on the 1900 block of I Street NE, using it as a central hub for their activities. Investigators observed Robinson at this headquarters nearly every day during their inquiry.
When authorities raided Robinson’s home in May 2024, they found a loaded Glock 27, 14 grams of suspected fentanyl, and various tools used for drug distribution.
The gang’s activities weren’t limited to selling crack cocaine, meth, and fentanyl; the group was tied to several shootings that terrified local residents. These included a March 2024 incident where a passerby walking a dog was shot at, and a drive-by shooting in April 2024 that left four people wounded.
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Robinson is the twelfth and final defendant to be sentenced in the sweeping case. His co-conspirators received varying terms based on their involvement. Trevon “Rocky” Palmer received 192 months, Charles “Cheese” Manson was sentenced to 170 months, and Briyon “Breezy” Shuford was given 161 months. Other members, including Damien “Woe” Jenkins (151 months) and Jamiek “Onion” Bassil (135 months), also received lengthy sentences.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the DEA, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department, with additional help from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Duvall and Solomon Eppel.
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