FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
NOVEMBER 21, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BALTIMORE ARMED CAREER CRIMINAL EXILED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON
ON GUN AND DRUG CHARGES
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Larry Johnson, age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 30 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after being convicted of possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine; use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted person, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Bennett enhanced Johnson’s sentence upon finding that he is an armed career criminal, based on three previous convictions for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on September 16, 2006, Johnson parked his girlfriend’s car in the 1800 block of Pennsylvania Avenue. He retrieved drugs from a black bag in the car and engaged in three hand-to-hand drug transactions with people on the street. The transactions were recorded by a pole camera being monitored by a detective, who ordered Johnson arrested.
When another officer came to arrest Johnson in a carry-out store, Johnson threw a gel capsule full of heroin behind the counter and the store employee threw it back. Johnson was arrested and a search of the car recovered a black bag containing 56 gel capsules of heroin, a baggie containing 4.86 grams of cocaine, 38 vials of cocaine, numerous empty vials, a scale, and a loaded Rossi Revolver. The black bag was on top of a mirror and razor blade with cocaine residue.
Gregory K. Gant, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives stated, “We hope that this sentencing sends a message to potential offenders that we will continue to target the ‘worst of the worst’ in Baltimore; and we will work to send more armed career criminals like Mr. Johnson to jail-for a very long time.”
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy, the Baltimore City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Tonya Kelly Kowitz and Jonathan Biran, who prosecuted the case.