D.C. police and federal agents said Wednesday they smashed two criminal operations that dealt in narcotics and stolen goods and helped spread violence throughout the District.

During raids in D.C. and Maryland authorities arrested five men and recovered a half-million dollars worth of narcotics, contraband and cash.

Instead of working out of a shop or one location, both rings bartered the drugs or goods in parks and fast-food parking lots in the Northwest and Northeast sections of Washington, authorities said.

“These guys were operating as a fencing operations,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Edgar Domenech. “We are not talking about unsophisticated individuals. These guys were very, very active.”

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In two separate indictments, David Dawson, 39, of Hyattsville, Maurice Crutchfield, 35, of D.C., Kenneth Posey, 53, of Landover, John Haley, 61, of D.C., and Ronald Haley, of no fixed address, were charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and interstate transportation of stolen goods.

The defendants each face a penalty of 10 years to life in prison.

During the yearlong investigation, undercover D.C. police and ATF investigators bought large quantifies of crack cocaine with household goods, video games and  gift certificates.

In one instance, investigators bought 83 grams of cocaine in exchange for three vacuum cleaners, a blender, two video games, a 37-inch flat-screen television, and Target gift cards totaling $500 and $1,000.

During the raids, authorities recovered 5 kilograms of powder cocaine, 500 grams of crack cocaine, 147 pounds of marijuana, four firearms and a Cadillac SUV.

D.C. police said the group could be responsible for hundreds of burglaries.

“When you remove groups that deal in that amount of narcotics and stolen goods you have an impact on violence, too,” Domenech said.

smccabe@dcexaminer.com