Convicted Killer Serving Life Is Sentenced to an Additional 46-Months for Possessing Contraband in Prison

            WASHINGTON – Marcel Vines, 28, a convicted kidnapper and killer serving a life sentence in prison, was sentenced today to an additional 46-months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy that smuggled a knife, fentanyl, and cell phones into the Central Detention Facility while he was awaiting trial for the murders of two innocent victims, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Vines, a member of the violent Clay Terrace Crew, pleaded guilty July 29, 2025, to conspiracy to commit and offense against the United States, that is possession of contraband in prison. In addition to his current life sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered Vines to serve an additional 46 months on the contraband charge.

            Joining in the announcement were Director Tom Faust of the D.C. Department of Corrections, FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            Previously, on Aug. 19, 2024, a federal jury found Vines guilty in the brutal kidnapping and murder of Kerrice Lewis and Armani Coles who had each been abducted at gun point, forced into vehicles, driven around the city, and then killed. In the case of Ms. Coles, she was trapped in the trunk of a sedan for more than 90 minutes before Vines and his co-defendant, Malique Lewis, 27, opened the trunk and shot her numerous times before setting the car on fire with her inside.

            On March 7, 2025, Judge Dabney L. Friedrich sentenced Vines and Malique Lewis to life plus 60 years in prison for the kidnappings and murders. Vines will serve the 46-month sentence for possessing contraband consecutively to the previous sentence.

            According to court documents, Vines was incarcerated in the Central Detention Facility (CDF) of the D.C. Department of Corrections (DOC) where he was awaiting trial on the double-armed kidnapping and murder charges. Vines was housed with other detainees from the Clay Terrace neighborhood of the District.

            Beginning in February 2024—but likely much earlier—the Clay Terrace detainees sought to bring weapons and controlled substances into CDF. They recruited two correctional officers to assist in bringing the contraband into the jail.

            DOC Office of Investigative Services made two recoveries of contraband in this case. On Feb. 28, 2024, DOC officers intercepted a bag containing a switchblade knife; an Apple iPhone; a USB iPhone charger; two pairs of eyeglasses; a bundle of marijuana wrapped in clear plastic wrap; tobacco wrapped in clear plastic wrap; several sheets of white rolling papers; a pair of gambling dice; three white sheets of paper that were damp and contained MDMB4en-PINACA—a synthetic cannabinoid and Schedule I Controlled Substance; additional packages of marijuana; and five plastic wrapped packages containing approximately 100 cigarettes.

            On July 25, 2024, DOC staffers conducted two searches of the unit housing the Clay Terrace detainees for contraband. The DOC staff recovered 269 blue pills (including 120 from Vines’ cell), which tested positive for fentanyl; 60 cigarettes soaked in an unknown liquid (including 40 in Mr. Vines’ cell); 255 suboxone strips (170 in Vines’ cell); seven pieces of paper soaked in an unknown liquid substance; three cellular phones; and cigarettes.

            This case was investigated by the DOC Office of Investigative Services, the Metropolitan Police Department,  and the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold and Sarah Santiago.

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