FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
November 23, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANNAPOLIS CRACK DEALER SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS IN PRISON
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Santino Tubaya, age 24, of Annapolis, Maryland, today to 14 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to Tubaya’s guilty plea, between at least 2004 and August, 2008, Tubaya, his brother Michael Powell, and others, distributed crack cocaine in the Annapolis, Maryland area. Specifically, during this time, Tubaya and Powell purchased in excess of 4.5 kilograms of cocaine powder and then converted the powder into crack cocaine, which was then broken down into smaller quantities and distributed by Tubaya and other individuals for sale in the Clay Street, Annapolis Gardens, and Newtowne areas around Annapolis. During the course of the conspiracy, law enforcement recovered crack cocaine from Tubaya and his co-conspirators, including 232 grams of crack cocaine seized during the execution of a search warrant at a residence on Betsy Court in Annapolis and vehicles parked at that location. During the execution of the warrant, Tubaya was seen throwing white chunks of crack cocaine.
Michael Powell, age 31, of Glen Burnie, previously pleaded guilty and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. His sentencing date has not been set.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Annapolis Police Department and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their investigative work and commended Assistant United States Attorney Charles J. Peters, who prosecuted the case.