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AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
MAY 19, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ESSEX MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE COCAINE AND A RELATED GUN CHARGE
BALTIMORE, Maryland - Don Thomas, Jr., age 40, of Essex, Maryland was sentenced to 25 years in prison today followed by ten years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of the drug conspiracy.
According to the statement of facts presented to the court on April 4, 2005 at his guilty plea, on March 5, 2004, a search warrant was executed at Thomas’ residence in the 1300 block of Sugarwood Circle, Baltimore, Maryland 21220. Officers recovered approximately one ounce of 90% pure cocaine; two ounces of cutting materials (Inositol) in the freezer area of the refrigerator; a digital scale found in a drawer near the refrigerator; two handguns: a loaded .32 caliber semi-automatic and a .45 caliber semi-automatic; a black plastic bag containing multiple small zip loc bags; and a total of $20,314 recovered from various locations in the home.
On March 4, 2004, telephone calls between Thomas’ co-conspirators, Ramon Rodriguez and Richard Stanford, were intercepted. In the calls, Rodriguez set up a meeting to pick up four kilograms of cocaine. Law enforcement officers followed Rodriguez to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was observed meeting with two unknown males. Upon completion of the two meetings, Rodriguez returned to Baltimore County, Maryland, where he met with Stanford at the Eastpoint mall, in order to deliver the cocaine to Stanford. Both Stanford and Rodriguez were arrested and a search of the 1993 Toyota that had been operated by Rodriguez revealed approximately 4 kilos of cocaine in a hidden compartment in the vehicle.
After being arrested, Rodriguez advised law enforcement officers that at Stanford’s request he made regular trips to Philadelphia to deliver money, usually supplied by Stanford and to pick up kilograms of cocaine. Rodriguez also advised law enforcement authorities that he had on a prior occasion delivered a kilo of cocaine to Thomas at the same location in Eastpoint Mall where he and Stanford had been arrested with the four kilos of cocaine. Officers had observed the meeting between Rodriguez and Thomas and had also observed the exchange between the two.
Stanford, age 30, and Rodriguez, age 24, both of Baltimore, previously pled guilty to drug charges and were sentenced to 262 months in prison and 87 months in prison, respectively.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Baltimore County Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their investigative work in this case. Mr. Rosenstein also praised Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Romano, who prosecuted the case.
This page last modified—May 25, 2006