FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
September 28, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FREDERICK MAN INDICTED ON FEDERAL GUN AND DRUG CHARGES
Sixth Defendant Prosecuted under “Frederick EXILE” Program
Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury has indicted Michael Alfred Johnson, age 48, of Frederick, Maryland for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, possessing a gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a gun and ammunition by a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Frederick County State’s Attorney Charlie Smith.
According to the three count indictment returned on September 24, 2009, on July 3, 2009 Johnson possessed five or more grams of cocaine base, a pocket pistol, an Armi Tanfoglio Giuseppe firearm and ammunition. Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison on the drug charge; a maximum sentence of five years in prison for possessing a gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a gun.
In the federal system, there is no probation and no parole. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of the guns and ammunition.
Johnson is the sixth defendant prosecuted under the Frederick County EXILE program, which is a coordinated effort by local, state and federal agencies to fight violent crime.
A person charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein and Frederick County State’s Attorney Charlie Smith thanked the Frederick Police Department under Chief Kim Dine, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their work in this investigation. Mr. Rosenstein and Mr. Smith commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Dwyer, who is prosecuting the case and Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Shoemaker, who assisted in the investigation.