FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
September 14, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BALTIMORE FELON EXILED TO OVER 11 YEARS IN PRISON ON DRUG CHARGE
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Darius Gaskins, age 31, of Baltimore, today to 140 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute heroin. Judge Quarles enhanced Gaskins’ sentence upon finding that he is a career offender based on two previous convictions for a violent crime or drugs.
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 Gaskins’ plea agreement, on October 11, 2010, a Baltimore City Police officer saw a man and woman approach Gaskins standing on the corner of South Smallwood and Christian Streets in Baltimore, and hand Gaskins money. Gaskins walked several steps away, took some small items from a hat and walked back to the individuals, handing them the small objects. The individuals quickly left and were apprehended a few moments later by police. A black gelcap containing heroin was recovered from each of them. They were arrested.
Police officers then approached Gaskins and arrested him. Officers seized a clear plastic bag containing eight black gelcaps of heroin from the hat used by Gaskins.
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 Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr., who prosecuted the case.