FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
March 17, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BALTIMORE FELON EXILED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON
FOR POSSESSION OF A GUN
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Gerard Maurice Epps, age 37, of Baltimore, today to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a gun. Judge Bennett enhanced Epp’s sentence upon finding that he is an armed career criminal based on five previous drug and robbery convictions.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III.
According to Epps’ plea agreement, on January 23, 2010 following an investigation into criminal activities conducted by Epps, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Epps’ residence and seized a .22 caliber revolver, ammunition, 11 blue top vials containing crack cocaine, a scale and packaging materials. Epps had previously been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing a gun.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in this investigation and thanked Assistant United States Attorneys John W. Sippel, Jr. and Bonnie S. Greenberg, who prosecuted the case.