WASHINGTON – The grim narrative of a city marred by gun violence reached its conclusion today as Jonathon Brown, 31, alias ‘Tsunami’, admitted his role in the tragic death of an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of a drug-related shootout. Brown pleaded guilty to participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that operated in the heart of Northwest Washington D.C., and for his involvement in the July 31, 2021 slaying of Kervin Sanches.
Brown’s admission came as U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott, and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith stood together to announce the plea deal. The defendant faces sentencing on August 8, 2024, for conspiracy to distribute and possess cocaine base, as well as voluntary manslaughter while armed.
Investigations by the MPD and FBI’s Washington Field Office revealed Brown’s regular visits to a stash house at 1221 M Street, where he sold substances alongside his co-conspirators. Text messages from Brown’s phone confirmed transactions involving fentanyl and cocaine base, leading to undercover officers purchasing hundreds of grams of drugs from the group.
The shootout that took place on 7th and O Streets NW claimed Kervin Sanches’ life. That night, as Brown met with associates, an unidentified man approached with a gun. A fiery exchange followed, resulting in a chaotic street battle. Tragically, Sanches was struck by a bullet during the melee, succumbing to his injuries at a nearby hospital.
Brown’s case is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by drug trafficking operations and the innocent lives lost as collateral damage in their wake. The MPD and FBI will continue their efforts to dismantle these criminal enterprises, ensuring justice for victims like Kervin Sanches.
This case was investigated by the MPD and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Rosenberg, Solomon Eppel, and Erin DeRiso of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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