Who was Rayful Edmond? Rayful Edmond III was a notorious figure in the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic in Washington, D.C. Born on November 26, 1964, he grew up in a family deeply involved in narcotics. Despite showing promise in academics and athletics, Edmond chose a different path, entering the drug trade at just nine years old. By his early twenties, he controlled a significant portion of D.C.’s drug market, earning millions and leaving a trail of violence. His operations were so extensive that even after his arrest, he continued to run his empire from prison. Edmond’s story is a complex mix of ambition, crime, and lasting impact on his community.