Notorious DC drug kingpin released from prison, placed in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A Washington, D.C., cocaine kingpin who was in prison for more than 35 years was released from prison and in a residential reentry center managed by RRM Nashville, according to NBC affiliate WRC.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said 59-year-old Rayful Edmond was transferred to the Nashville-area facility Wednesday. The Nashville office oversees facilities in Tennessee and Kentucky.

According to WRC, the prison release came as a surprise. Last week, a judge in Pennsylvania denied Edmond’s request for compassionate release, and two weeks ago, a D.C. District court judge denied a request for another sentence reduction.

Edmond was convicted in 1990 for running a cocaine ring that reportedly racked up millions of dollars and sent the murder rate so high that D.C. became known as the “murder capital” of the nation, according to WRC.

WRC said Edmond was released after becoming an informant and cooperating with the government after the FBI learned he was making large drug deals with a Columbian cartel from a federal prison in Pennsylvania. In 1994, WRC said he flipped and became an informant.

After 20 years, Edmond helped provide information to the feds that led to the convictions of at least 100 people, WRC said.

His help also resulted in the release of his mother, Constance “Bootsie” Perry, who was sentenced to 14 years for part in her son’s operation.