Jeanine Pirro Wages War on Crime as Interim U.S. Attorney in D.C.

Jeanine Pirro, newly appointed as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, has hit the ground running with a sweeping crackdown on crime in the nation’s capital. In just a few short weeks, her office has announced a wave of prosecutions and convictions across a range of serious offenses—from violent kidnappings to major drug trafficking operations—sending a clear message: law and order are back on the agenda.

Pirro’s first month in office has seen no shortage of high-profile cases. Among them: a group of robbers sentenced for kidnapping and brutally assaulting a woman in her own home; three individuals convicted for trafficking fentanyl across the city; a marijuana dealer sentenced to over two years for distributing drugs while carrying a machine gun; and a jury conviction of a father for the first-degree sexual abuse of his 12-year-old child.

“These cases are just the beginning,” Pirro said in a statement. “My office is committed to restoring safety to our streets and holding offenders accountable. The people of Washington, D.C., deserve justice—and they’re going to get it.”

Last week, Pirro’s office secured long prison sentences for two men involved in a sprawling drug conspiracy that not only pushed narcotics into the city but was also tied to a violent shooting. Jamiek “Onion” Bassil, 32, and Charles “Cheese” Manson, 34, were sentenced to 135 and 175 months respectively for their roles in distributing fentanyl, crack cocaine, and other illegal substances throughout Northeast D.C.

Both men were affiliated with a gang known as the “21st and Vietnam” crew, which operated an open-air drug market in the 2100 block of Maryland Avenue. Pirro revealed that Bassil had sold up to 80 grams of fentanyl to undercover officers between January and March 2024, often along with other drugs. Meanwhile, Manson was tied to a March 7 shooting near his home on I Street Northeast.

According to Pirro, Manson donned a ski mask handed to him by another crew member, then exited his building carrying a revolver. He fired multiple rounds at a pedestrian walking their dog—apparently a bystander caught in the crew’s internal dispute. No injuries were reported, but the incident shocked the community.

When officers later arrested Manson, they recovered a Glock 17 loaded with 22 rounds, drug paraphernalia, nearly 14 grams of cocaine, and approximately 50 grams of fentanyl analog—an amount that could be lethal many times over. According to the DEA, just two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal depending on the user’s body size and tolerance.

“These are not low-level crimes,” Pirro emphasized. “This is about organized trafficking, firearms, and blatant disregard for public safety.”

And the crackdowns don’t stop with local drug rings.

Pirro’s office also announced the conviction of a Washington state man, Taylor Taranto, 39, who livestreamed a string of bizarre and threatening videos in 2023. He was found guilty on multiple federal charges, including illegal firearms possession, ammunition violations, and broadcasting hoaxes.

In a chilling display, Taranto livestreamed himself in June 2023 while driving a van near National Harbor, Maryland, claiming he was “working on a detonator” and threatening to detonate a bomb at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He then drove across state lines into Virginia, abandoning his vehicle in the middle of a road to cause panic.

The livestream captured his followers’ reactions in real time, turning what could have been a tragedy into a spectacle. He was quickly apprehended. During the arrest, authorities found two unlicensed firearms and ammunition in his possession.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols found Taranto guilty on all counts. A sentencing date is pending, with discussions ongoing about whether he will remain in custody in the meantime.

Pirro praised the efforts of law enforcement across agencies for their swift action in the case. “Threats against federal institutions and the public are no joke,” she said. “This case shows that we are prepared to act decisively against anyone who tries to cause chaos or fear.”

As Pirro settles into her new role, it’s clear that she intends to leave a mark. Her focus on rapid prosecutions and public safety has already stirred both praise and controversy. Supporters see her as a tough-talking enforcer; critics worry about overreach.

But Pirro remains undeterred.

“We’re not here to play politics,” she said during a recent press briefing. “We’re here to clean up the mess. And I’m just getting started.”