FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
OCTOBER 19, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEVEN DEFENDANTS INDICTED ON GUN AND DRUG CHARGES THIS WEEK
AS PART OF THE MARYLAND EXILE PROGRAM
BALTIMORE, Maryland - A federal grand jury has indicted seven men on gun charges this week as part of the Maryland Exile program, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy.
U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, "The Maryland EXILE partners are making steady progress toward our goal of ensuring that criminals do hard time for gun crime. We are meeting with our partners next week to review our accomplishments and develop additional strategies for the future."
“These indictments reflect the coordinated efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement in our Exile partnership,” said State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy. “These efforts have led to many successful prosecutions of violent, repeat offenders who are now EXILED from our community. Together we are moving forward to make our citizens safe.”
Maryland EXILE is a joint effort by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to combat gun crime that combines law enforcement efforts, community action and revitalization, and public awareness. Under Maryland EXILE, criminals do hard time for gun crime.
A two-count indictment charges a convicted felon, Dennis Bowers, age 22, of Baltimore, with carjacking and possessing a gun in furtherance of the carjacking. Bowers was arrested and found to be in possession of the gun.
Abdulmunta Ad-deen, age 37, of Baltimore is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, commonly called crack.
Thurmond Dominick Brown, age 24, of Owings Mills, Maryland; Jamar Brown a/k/a “Chris Smith,” age 24; and Garfield Redd, age 37, all of Baltimore, were each indicted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Raymond Jones, age 28, of Baltimore, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Robert Woods, age 24, of Baltimore, was indicted for being a felon in possession of ammunition.
The maximum penalty for possession of a firearm or ammunition by a felon is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for possession with intent to distribute cocaine is 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The maximum penalty for carjacking is 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime is life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
All the defendants are being transferred to federal custody and their initial appearances have not yet been scheduled.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy thanked the Baltimore City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their assistance in the investigations. Mr. Rosenstein and Ms. Jessamy commended Special Assistant United States Attorney James Francomano, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to EXILE cases, who is prosecuting Garfield Redd, Jamar Brown, and Abdulmunta Ad-deen; Special Assistant United States Attorney Traci Robinson, also a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to EXILE cases, who is prosecuting Raymond Jones; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Weinstein and Gregory Welsh who are prosecuting Dennis Bowers; Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hanlon who is prosecuting Thurmond Brown; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry Gruber who is prosecuting Robert Woods.