FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
APRIL 19, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TWO CONVICTED IN MURDER AND DRUG TRAFFICKING SCHEME
Two Bodies Found in Car Trunk During Traffic Stop on I-95 in Cecil County
Murders Carried Out in Furtherance of Drug Conspiracy
Baltimore, Maryland - James Moore, age 43, of Andrews, South Carolina and Walter Babbs, age 37, of Greensboro, North Carolina, were convicted at trial by a federal jury today of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine; and conspiracy to possess and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Moore was also convicted of two counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, specifically the shooting of Willie Anthony Robinson and Alexandria Angeline Withers. The jury was not able to reach a verdict on those counts as to Babbs.
According to evidence presented at trial, from September 2002 to August 2004, Moore and Babbs conspired to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. Willie Anthony Robinson supplied the defendants with the drugs since January 2003. On November 6, 2003 Maryland state troopers stopped a car driven by Moore on Interstate I-95 in Cecil County, Maryland for a traffic violation. Co-conspirator Porsha Harper was a passenger in the car. The troopers found the dead bodies of Robinson and Alexandria Angeline Withers in the car’s trunk. The car had been stolen from Robinson. Robinson and Withers had been shot and killed the previous day. The troopers seized $100,380 from a passenger compartment of the vehicle and $2,000 from Moore, which had been taken from the victims. Moore was taking the bodies to New York where he intended to conceal his involvement and that of his co-conspirators in the murders by abandoning the car and setting it on fire. Moore also possessed over 40 money wrappers, and documents on which were written the phone numbers and names of conspirators, including Babbs.
From November 7, 2003 to March, 2004 calls were made to and from Babbs cell phone and the Cecil County Detention Center where Moore was incarcerated. In early 2004 and again in March, 2004, a conspirator traveled from Maryland to Greensboro, North Carolina to meet Babbs. Babbs provided the conspirator with crack and cash which was used and distributed back in Maryland.
Babbs faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine and Moore faces a maximum life sentence on the same count. Moore and Babbs face a maximum of life in prison for possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and Moore also faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for use of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Moore and Babbs face 20 years in prison for conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. U.S. District Judge Andre M. Davis has scheduled sentencing for both on July 26, 2007.
Co-conspirator Porsha Lashawn Harper, age 40, of Greensboro, North Carolina previously pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in connection with the case. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release and is awaiting sentencing.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Maryland State Police. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Purcell and Debra Dwyer, who are prosecuting the case.