DC Man Convicted of Third Federal Drug-Trafficking Crime
A federal jury found Ronthany Ward guilty of drug and firearm charges.
3 reports on this incident · first at Sep 1, 2026, 3:54 a.m. ET
This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.
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Earlier reports
Sep 1, 2026, 3:59 a.m. ET
DC Man Convicted of Third Federal Drug-Trafficking Crime
A federal jury in Baltimore convicted Ronthany Ward, 60, of Washington, D.C., on multiple drug-trafficking and firearm charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland announced on August 31, 2026. The jury found Ward guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and phencyclidine; possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, evidence presented during the four-day trial showed Ward was a member of a large-scale drug-trafficking operation based in Prince George's County, Maryland. In August 2023, DEA investigators tracked a suspected Baltimore cocaine trafficker to a parking lot in National Harbor, Maryland, where the target met with two men in an SUV registered to Ward. The target later led investigators to a Baltimore apartment complex, where they recovered 43 kilograms of cocaine. A subsequent search of Ward's Fort Washington residence, where he lived with his minor child, uncovered loaded firearms, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and a drug ledger documenting the cocaine transaction. Ward is prohibited from possessing firearms due to two prior drug-related felony convictions.
Ward faces life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of five years for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, to be served consecutively to any other sentence. He also faces an additional mandatory minimum of five years on drug-trafficking counts, which carry up to 40 years, and up to 15 years for the unlawful firearm charge. Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, at 3 p.m. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
Sep 1, 2026, 3:54 a.m. ETFirst report
DC Man Convicted of Third Federal Drug-Trafficking Crime
A federal jury in Baltimore convicted Ronthany Ward, 60, of Washington, DC, on multiple drug-trafficking and firearm charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland announced on August 31, 2026. The jury found Ward guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and phencyclidine; possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, evidence presented during the four-day trial showed Ward was a member of a large-scale drug-trafficking operation based in Prince George's County, Maryland. In August 2023, DEA investigators tracked a suspected Baltimore cocaine trafficker to a parking lot in National Harbor, Maryland, where the target met with two men in an SUV registered to Ward. The target later led investigators to a Baltimore apartment complex, where they arrested him and found 43 kilograms of cocaine in duffle bags.
Investigators identified a Fort Washington, Maryland residence as the operation's stash house, where Ward lived with his minor child. During a search, they found three firearms, including two loaded on a refrigerator and one on the kitchen floor. Ward is prohibited from possessing firearms due to two prior drug-related felony convictions. The search also uncovered fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and a drug ledger documenting the 43-kilogram transaction.
Ward faces life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of five years for the firearm-in-furtherance charge, to be served consecutively. He also faces additional mandatory minimums and up to 40 years for drug-trafficking counts and up to 15 years for the unlawful firearm charge. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2 at 3 p.m. Actual sentences are typically less than the maximum penalties, and a federal judge will determine the sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
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- Version 11 Sept 2026, 07:59current
First published.
- Version 11 Sept 2026, 07:54current
First published.
- Version 11 Sept 2026, 08:05current
First published.
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