FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
SEPTEMBER 28, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BALTIMORE FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM EXILED
TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON
Baltimore, Maryland - U. S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Donald Bennett, age 25, of Baltimore, today to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Bennett enhanced Donald Bennett’s sentence upon finding that he is an armed career criminal based on five previous narcotics convictions.
“Donald Bennett joins the long list of gun-toting Baltimore criminals sent out of Maryland to federal prisons under the Exile program,” said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein
According to the plea agreement, on September 19, 2006 when Baltimore City Police officers were executing a search warrant at an apartment in Baltimore, they saw Bennett run from a rear bedroom into a bathroom carrying a silver handgun. An officer heard the bathroom window break and a short time later, Bennett came out of the bathroom with his hands in the air. Another officer who was outside saw someone throw a gun out a window onto the roof. A loaded Smith & Wesson model 669 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol was recovered from the roof just above the bathroom window.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy and Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher Mason, 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 Debra Dwyer, who are prosecuting the case.