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October 23, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

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

BALTIMORE MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 13 YEARS IN PRISON

ON DRUG CONSPIRACY AND GUN CHARGES

BALTIMORE, Maryland - John Long, age 26, of Baltimore, was sentenced today to 160 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, heroin, powder cocaine and other controlled substances, and using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the statement of facts presented to the court at his guilty plea, and trial testimony of a co-conspirator, Long conspired with Charles Garrison, Maurice Green and James Sweets from 2003 to 2004 to distribute the drugs from various locations, including 7 South Broadway Street in Baltimore. On April 30, 2004 officers recovered 53.14 grams of a mixture containing crack cocaine, 10.2 grams of a mixture containing heroin and a quantity of a mixture containing cocaine from the South Broadway street location which Long admitted were part of the drug conspiracy.

During his drug activities, Long carried various firearms, including a Norico SKS 7.62 caliber rifle; a Glock 20, 10mm pistol; a Glock Mossberg 500a, .12 gauge shotgun; a Glock 23, .40 caliber pistol; a Glock 27, .40 caliber pistol; and a Intratec 9mm pistol; with ammunition. In mid-April, 2004, Long and others moved the firearms from 7 South Broadway to 270 S. Highland Avenue, Baltimore. On May 4, 2004, law enforcement officials recovered the firearms with ammunition. Long acknowledged that the firearms were carried for protection and in furtherance of the drug conspiracy.

Garrison, age 36, and Green, age 25, both of Baltimore, pled guilty to the same charges prior to their trial and were sentenced to 22 ½ years, and 11 years three months, in prison, respectively. Sweets, age 31, also of Baltimore, was convicted at trial of the drug conspiracy and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baltimore City Police Department for their investigative work performed in this case. Mr. Rosenstein also praised Assistant United States Attorney Kwame J. Manley, who prosecuted the case.

This page last modified—October 23, 2006