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November 9, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LEADER OF BALTIMORE DRUG GANG SENTENCED TO 27 YEARS IN PRISON
East Baltimore Heroin and Cocaine Ring Dismantled
by Federal/State Task Force
BALTIMORE, Maryland - Tavon Robinson, age 26, of Baltimore was sentenced today to 27 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Robinson was an organizer and leader of a drug gang that distributed at least 15 to 50 kilograms of cocaine.
At the end of today’s contentious sentencing hearing Robinson reacted to his lengthy sentence by hitting his attorney in the knee and throwing a monitor off the trial table. The U.S. Marshals quickly secured Robinson and cleared the courtroom, as the court spectators were also becoming disruptive.
“This gang of drug dealers poisoned East Baltimore with drugs and violence for several years,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “By developing a coordinated strategy with state and federal law enforcement officials, we were able to remove them from the streets of Baltimore and forfeit their homes, vehicles and property to the government. Tavon Robinson should have contemplated the consequences of his actions when he was dealing drugs, instead of getting upset about the punishment when it was too late.”
The investigation was conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force ("OCDETF") program. The task force, which is composed of federal law enforcement agencies and chaired by the United States Attorney's office, evaluates and approves proposed narcotics investigations OCDETF investigations typically target multi-defendant, multi-jurisdictional narcotics organizations where the joined efforts of federal and local agents are most effective. Once approved as an OCDETF case, the task force contributes to the payment of state and local law enforcement overtime expended on these cases. The Baltimore City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led this investigation.
All 17 defendants have pleaded guilty in connection with the operation of an East Baltimore drug organization and its sale of wholesale quantities of drugs throughout Maryland. The indictment also included $2,080,000 in criminal forfeiture. U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles ordered criminal forfeiture of several assets including two homes; a 2001 Peterbilt 379 Tri-Axle Dump Truck; 2000 Peterbilt 379 Tri-Axle Dump Truck; 2006 Peterbilt 379 Dump Truck; and over $26,000.
According to the statement of facts and other court documents, from December 1998 through March 2006, members of the drug conspiracy included Tavon Robinson, Eric Horsey, Balewa Mayo, Michael Cooper, Antonio Jeffers, Charles Douglas, Durrone Goins, Walter Harris, Terrence Moody, Lashavio Gilliam, Leonard Ferguson, Christopher Shaw, Raynard Pratt, Larry Yarrall, and Andre Miles. Also convicted were co-conspirators Darryl Adams and Rodney Williams. The conspirators sold large quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin from various locations in Baltimore, Maryland. The defendants set up wholesale cocaine deals, distributed drugs to customers, and collected money to further the goals of the drug conspiracy. Several defendants also possessed firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy.
On October 6, 2006, co-defendant Walter Harris, age 35, of Baltimore was sentenced to 15 years, eight months in prison; Christopher Shaw, age 35, of Baltimore was sentenced to 10 years, 10 months in prison; and Antonio Jeffers, age 29, of Baltimore was sentenced to 46 months in prison. On October 13, 2006, co-defendant Balewa Mayo, age 29, of Baltimore was sentenced to 14 years in prison and Andre Miles, age 25 of Baltimore was sentenced on October 12, 2006 to 10 years, one month imprisonment. On November 3, 2006 Terrence Moody, age 41, of Baltimore was sentenced today to 21 years, 10 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, 50 grams of crack cocaine, and heroin; Larry Yarrall, age 30, and Lashavio Gilliam, age 37, both of Baltimore, were sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in prison and 10 years in prison, respectively, on the same charge.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baltimore Police Department for their investigative work in this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case. Mr. Rosenstein also praised Assistant United States Attorneys Kwame J. Manley and Robert R. Harding, who are prosecuting the case.
This page last modified—November 9, 2006