Newsroom

Seeking Feedback on Rayful Edmond Resentencing

Over the next several weeks, our office is inviting District residents and the community to share their views about whether a federal judge should reduce Rayful Edmond’s sentence. Mr. Edmond ran a major cocaine ring in the District in the 1980s. He was convicted of federal drug distribution charges in 1990 and is currently serving a life sentence without parole. Now, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is asking a federal court to reduce that sentence because Mr. Edmond has been cooperating with federal authorities since the late 1990s.

This is a significant and unique opportunity for District residents to be heard in the adult criminal justice system, where we do not often have a voice. This is also a historic step for District autonomy because for the first time, a federal judge has enlisted OAG to obtain information about the community’s views for sentencing in an adult criminal case it is not prosecuting.

You are encouraged to share your views about whether Rayful Edmond’s life sentence without parole should be reduced by a federal court. You can learn how to submit comments online, by mail, or by telephone at RayfulEdmondFeedback.com.

You can also provide feedback in person at one of our three community forums:

• Thursday, June 13 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Old Council Chambers (441 4th Street NW)
• Saturday, June 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Martha's Table (2375 Elvans Road SE)
• Saturday, June 29 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Frank D. Reeves Center (2000 14th Street NW)

For more information or help with any questions, please visit RayfulEdmondFeedback.com, email OAGCommunity@dc.gov, or call 202-727-3400.

Karl A. Racine
Attorney General

Lawsuit Advances Against Facebook for Failing to Protect User Data

Last week, a judge denied Facebook’s attempt to stop OAG’s lawsuit that seeks to hold the company accountable for not protecting the personal data of more than 340,000 District users. An OAG investigation found evidence that Facebook’s lax oversight and confusing privacy settings put users at risk of manipulation by allowing companies and third-party applications to collect personal data without users’ permission. This lawsuit is the first filed by a State Attorney General against Facebook and this ruling allows the case to move forward. OAG will now focus on obtaining all of the evidence proving that Facebook broke District law and did not follow its own policies to protect the privacy of its users. Learn more.

Standing Up for Veterans

As a nation, we must do all we can to help our fellow Americans who risk their lives to protect and defend us. With 50 Attorneys General and the National Attorneys General Association, AG Racine is urging the Department of Education to develop an automatic process to ensure permanently disabled veterans can have their student loans forgiven. Student loan forgiveness is required by law for the approximately 42,000 permanently disabled veterans in the U.S., but fewer than 9,000 have applied for forgiveness. With an average debt of $24,000 each, we must stand up for these brave veterans and make student loan forgiveness automatic. Learn more.

Defending Protections Against Predatory Payday Loans

Recently, AG Racine led a group of 25 states in opposing the Trump administration’s effort to eliminate consumer protections from risky and predatory payday loans. These loans can trap low- and middle-income borrowers in endless cycles of debt. According to Pew Research Center, 58% of payday borrowers have trouble meeting their monthly expenses and often must reborrow to help repay the original loan. The administration’s illegal effort to roll back payday lending protections would allow lenders to prey on vulnerable consumers and undercut states’ efforts to protect their residents. Learn more.

Consumer Alert: One Ring Scam

Sometimes when scammers call, they don’t want you to answer the phone. Instead, they want you to call back so that you're charged long distance fees. To increase the likelihood that you will call back, scammers will sometimes call from numbers that seem to have U.S. area codes or use “spoofing” techniques that further mask the number’s origin on your Caller ID. Learn more about this "one ring" scam and tips for avoiding a surprise phone bill.

Teaching Teens About Underage Drinking and Consent

Prom should be a time to enjoy friends and dance the night away, but for some teens, prom brings pressures to drink alcohol or engage in sexual activity. Recently, OAG was at Woodrow Wilson High School to help educate approximately 700 teens through its “Sobriety Check” and “Prom and Consent” programs. These interactive programs teach students about the dangers of underage drinking and help them understand how the law defines sexual assault and consent. Learn tips on how to have important conversations with youth about underage drinking and understanding consent.

OAG's Randy Chen Recognized with Prestigious Fellowship for Wage Theft Work

Recently, the Public Rights Project announced the selection of OAG’s Assistant Attorney General Randy Chen as a fellow for its Affirmative Leaders Fellowship. This program is designed to help state and local governments expand their capacity to protect the rights of their residents. Randy was selected for his work to protect District workers from wage theft—when employers refuse to pay employees what they're rightfully owed. Learn more about OAG's efforts to protect workers and educate them about fair wages, overtime pay, and sick leave in our annual report.