Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section

César S. Rivera-Giraud, Chief

Kim Nielsen, Deputy Chief

Matt Kinskey, Deputy Chief

The Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section's (“VCNT") mission is to disrupt and dismantle our district's most serious drivers of violence and large-scale firearms and drug trafficking. VCNT places an emphasis on proactive, intelligence-driven, long- and medium-term criminal investigations, and our prosecutions focus on violent and armed crews and conspiracies, collective conduct, and repeat offenders. VCNT's prosecutions target everything from criminal street gangs to international cartels and span a broad range of subjects and statutes, from firearms and narcotics conspiracies, interstate robbery conspiracies, and RICO and VICAR prosecutions, to darknet drug trafficking and money laundering, Continuing Criminal Enterprises, and Title III wiretap investigations. VCNT AUSAs regularly advise, strategize, and coordinate with law enforcement agencies on investigative steps and sequencing; draft search warrants and other legal process; present cases to the federal grand jury; brief and handle detention hearings and other hearings in court; and take cases to trial.

Drug and Firearm Trafficking Conspiracies

U.S. Seizes 300,000 Kilos of Meth Precursor Chemicals Sent from China Destined for Mexico’s Sinaloa Drug Cartel

Eleven Men Charged in D.C. in Federal Indictment Targeting Transnational Methamphetamine and GBL Drug Trafficking Organization

Gunrunner Who Illegally Trafficked More than 200 Firearms to DC Area Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison

Previously Deported Mexican Drug Trafficker Sentenced in D.C. for Role in International Fentanyl Conspiracy

RICO, VICAR, and Death Resulting Cases

Convicted Killer Sentenced to 35 ½ Years for RICO Conspiracy and VICAR Kidnapping

Road Rage Killer Sentenced to Life in Prison in Fatal Shooting of Uber Driver

Hobbs Act Robbery and Carjacking Conspiracies

New York City Felon Sentenced to 77 Months for D.C. Swatting and Carjacking Incidents

Purse Thief Who Targeted Kristi Noem Sentenced to 36 Months for Wire Fraud and First-Degree Theft

Spree of Violent Robberies Nets Previously Convicted Killer an Additional 42 Months in Federal Prison

Former Chinatown Walgreens Manager Sentenced to 147 Months in a Series of Inside-Job Robberies

Darkweb Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering

Department Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against More Than $7.74 Million Laundered on Behalf of the North Korean Government

California Money Launderer Sentenced in D.C. to 70 Months for Role in Scheme that Stole $263 Million

Cryptocurrency Money Launderer Pleads Guilty to RICO Conspiracy in Scheme that Stole $263 Million in Crypto