Baltimore Cocaine Dealer Sentenced To Over 12 Years In Prison

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Travis Gaines, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 151 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Judge Quarles also found that Gaines is a career offender based on previous narcotics convictions.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein.

According their plea agreements, Gaines and Bolden conspired with Shawn Malone, Karl McDonald and others to obtain cocaine from sources of supply in Arizona and Texas and to distribute those drugs in Baltimore. Once the cocaine arrived in Baltimore, it would be distributed to Gaines and other wholesale customers who would redistribute it to their customers. McDonald converted the powder cocaine to crack cocaine for street level distribution and operated a distribution shop in Baltimore where the crack cocaine was sold. During the course of the investigation DEA intercepted the telephone and electronic communications of several members of the conspiracy. In addition, as a result of several search warrants executed on June 6, 2013, the DEA recovered approximately 250 grams of cocaine, as well as packaged cocaine, from the main stash house of the organization.

Gaines and Bolden admitted that as part of the conspiracy they were responsible for the distribution of between five and 15 kilograms of cocaine.

Karl McDonald, age 30, and Antoine Bolden, age 37, both of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and were sentenced to 151 months and 84 months in prison, respectively. Shawn Malone, age 31, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to his role in the drug distribution conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the DEA, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney James T. Wallner, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.