FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885  

September 7, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md                                       

BALTIMORE COCAINE DISTRIBUTOR FORFEITS OVER $500,000

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz ordered Daniel Pellegrini, age 55, of Baltimore, to pay a forfeiture of $558,752.62 today for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and sentenced Pellegrini to 30 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the statement of facts presented to the court on April 26, 2005 at his guilty plea, telephone calls that were intercepted in June 2004 between Pellegrini and a suspected narcotics trafficker revealed that Pellegrini was being supplied with substantial quantities of cocaine which he resold in smaller quantities. Pellegrini was also seen meeting with the source of supply at Pellegrini’s house. On July 17, 2004 officers seized one half kilogram of cocaine and one half kilogram of marijuana at Pellegrini’s residence, along with scales, tally sheets and a substantial amount of cash. Pellegrini admitted that he conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute between 5 and 15 kilograms of cocaine. Pellegrini agreed to forfeit $558,752.62 in money, property or assets.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baltimore City Police Department for their investigative work, and commended Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Romano, who prosecuted the case.

This page last modified—September 7, 2006