‘LA Dank DMV’ Crew Gets Decades in Marijuana & Gun Trafficking

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The stench of high-grade marijuana and the glint of illegal firearms are fading from the streets of the DMV as federal authorities deliver stiff sentences to members of the ‘LA Dank DMV’ crew. Avery Bost, 29, of Brandywine, MD, received 37 months behind bars, while Joe Blyther, 29, of Bowie, MD, will spend the next 10 years in prison for their roles in a sophisticated marijuana distribution conspiracy that flooded the metropolitan area with product from California.

The sentences, handed down by Judge Kollar-Kotelly, stem from guilty pleas entered in October and November of 2023. Bost pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute, and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana. Blyther’s charges were far more extensive: Conspiracy to Distribute, and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Using, Carrying, and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense; Possession of a Machine Gun; and Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Felon. Both defendants face three years of supervised release following their incarceration.

This wasn’t a small-time operation. Eight co-defendants have already admitted guilt to various drug and firearms charges, painting a picture of a well-organized network. Christopher Akinduro received 74 months, Isaac Akinduro 41 months, Kavon Duncan 71 months, Omar Butler 18 months, and Randall Lance 63 months. The alleged ringleader, Abubakr Banire, awaits sentencing on June 24, 2024. The investigation, spearheaded by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, revealed a conspiracy operating between May and December 2021.

The ‘LA Dank DMV’ crew wasn’t shy about their business. They built a slick marketing operation, utilizing dedicated websites and Instagram to advertise their “LA Dank” branded marijuana. To avoid heat, they rotated stash houses – rental properties used for short-term drug distribution before moving on. But the operation wasn’t just about weed. Law enforcement recovered a frightening arsenal: approximately 122 pounds of marijuana, 19 firearms, and 10 machine gun conversion devices. Three of those firearms were fully operational machine guns, modified with illegal conversion devices – seven of which were found in an “LA Dank” branded bag. Two were “ghost guns,” privately made AR-pistol style machine guns.

Ledgers and receipts confirmed the scale of the operation, documenting the trafficking of over 100 kilograms of marijuana into the DMV. Blyther specifically admitted guilt related to one of the pistols equipped with a machine gun conversion device, highlighting the dangerous intersection of drugs and firearms. The bust was a collaborative effort involving the FBI Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, Prince George’s County Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin F. Song, Meredith E. Mayer-Dempsey, and Thomas Strong secured the convictions and sentences. This case serves as a stark reminder that the illegal drug trade isn’t just about narcotics – it’s often inextricably linked to violent crime and a brazen disregard for the law. The ‘LA Dank DMV’ crew thought they could operate with impunity. They were wrong. And now, they’re paying the price.”