FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
MARCH 1, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BALTIMORE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 350 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA
$400,000 of Marijuana Found In His Truck
BALTIMORE, Maryland - Chester Griffiths, age 43, of Baltimore pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to the plea agreement, on June 15, 2006, a law enforcement officer observed Griffiths’ vehicle at a truck stop in Howard County, Maryland. The officer discovered that the vehicle’s registration was suspended and that Griffiths’ driver’s license had expired. The officer stopped the vehicle and arrested Griffiths after noticing a strong smell of marijuana. Approximately 157 kilograms (over 350 pounds) of marijuana with a street value of about $400,000 was seized from the vehicle, along with $1,820. Officers recovered an additional $2,324 and two scales from Griffiths’ home.
Griffiths faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment without parole, followed by 8 years supervised release and a $4 million fine. U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz has scheduled sentencing for April 17, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. Griffiths remains in federal custody.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Howard County Police Department. Mr. Rosenstein also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kwame J. Manley, who is prosecuting the case.