A D.C. man who sold hundreds of fentanyl pills while carrying a pistol in Southeast Washington will spend eight years in federal prison.
U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden sentenced Darae Vaughn, 31, to 96 months on Thursday, Oct. 8, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. McFadden also ordered five years of supervised release.
Vaughn, known as "Rae," pleaded guilty on June 30 to three federal charges. They include conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and distribution and possession of 10 grams or more of fentanyl.
The FBI Safe Streets Task Force opened its investigation in March 2025 after reports of narcotics trafficking on the 2000 block of 19th Place SE. Agents were tracking counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills in the area.
Over six months, from April through September 2025, Vaughn sold hundreds of fentanyl pills along with crack cocaine, carfentanyl and methamphetamine during nine recorded transactions, court documents state. He was armed with a Glock 43x pistol throughout.
Carfentanyl is a synthetic opioid roughly 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is used commercially as a large-animal tranquilizer and has no known medical use in humans.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in December 2024 that overdose deaths involving carfentanyl jumped roughly sevenfold nationally between early 2023 and early 2024. Cases were reported in 37 states including D.C.
A codefendant, Charles Dixon, was sentenced Tuesday, Oct. 6, to 33 months for his role in the conspiracy. Court documents show Dixon and Vaughn exchanged text messages in January 2025 discussing pills Vaughn had supplied. Dixon participated in the sale of 96 fentanyl pills on April 8, 2025, and 163 pills on July 3, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Vaughn put lives at risk by trafficking fentanyl and crack cocaine while armed. She warned that anyone pushing deadly drugs into D.C. communities will face prison time.
The FBI Washington Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Iris McCranie and Kate Naseef prosecuted the case.
Residents who suspect drug activity in their neighborhood can contact the FBI's Washington Field Office or call 911.
