WASHINGTON D.C. – Antonio Christian Payne, 30, of Northeast Washington D.C., is facing serious time after a federal jury slammed him with 10 felony counts related to a sprawling drug operation and an illegal armory discovered at his residence. The verdict, delivered after a grueling five-day trial in U.S. District Court, exposes a dangerous criminal who allegedly fueled the city’s drug trade while brandishing weaponry and inciting violence.
The case began to unravel on April 18, 2022, when a drive-by shooting targeted Payne’s cousin near 2430 Baldwin Cres, NE. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded swiftly, entering the home where Payne and his cousin were staying. What started as a welfare check quickly morphed into a major investigation when surveillance footage revealed a chilling detail: minutes before the shooting, Payne himself had been seen with a firearm, confronting the individual who would later open fire. The suspect had attempted to access Payne’s car and garage, which would later prove to be a stash house.
A subsequent search of the property yielded a shocking haul. Federal agents recovered six firearms, including a privately manufactured “ghost rifle,” a .22 caliber rifle, and four semi-automatic 9mm pistols. The arsenal was accompanied by a mountain of ammunition, magazines, and a ballistic vest capable of stopping rifle rounds. But the guns weren’t the half of it. Authorities also seized nearly 750 grams of fentanyl, 240 grams of cocaine powder, 175 grams of crack cocaine, 130 grams of methamphetamine, 12 kilograms of marijuana, and a significant quantity of oxycodone pills.
Alongside the drugs and weapons, investigators discovered nearly $30,000 in U.S. currency, a clear indication of the lucrative nature of Payne’s criminal enterprise. The jury found Payne guilty on all counts: unlawful possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; unlawful possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; unlawful possession with intent to distribute marijuana; unlawful possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; unlawful possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; unlawful possession with intent to distribute oxycodone; unlawful opening and maintenance of a premises to manufacture and distribute a controlled substance; using, carrying and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; using, carrying and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense; and carrying a pistol without a license.
U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, alongside ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai and MPD Chief Pamela Smith, lauded the collaborative effort that brought Payne to justice. The investigation was spearheaded by MPD officers and detectives, with crucial follow-up work by ATF special agents. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Will Hart and Solomon Eppel of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section secured the conviction.
Payne remains in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. Given the sheer volume of drugs and firearms involved, and the brazen nature of his actions, sources close to the prosecution suggest Payne is likely facing a substantial prison sentence. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and gun violence plaguing the nation’s capital.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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