FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
April
22, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HAGERSTOWN FELON SENTENCED TO OVER 15 YEARS IN PRISON
Baltimore, Maryland - Chief U.S. District Judge Benson E. Legg sentenced Rodney Jenkins, age 33, of Hagerstown, Maryland, today to 188 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Legg enhanced Jenkins’ sentence upon finding that he was a career criminal, based on previous convictions for resisting arrest and distribution of drugs.
According to his guilty plea, on February 9, 2006, a confidential source working at the direction of the Drug Enforcement Administration placed a recorded call to Jenkins on his cell phone. During the call, Jenkins agreed to sell the source 30 grams of crack cocaine for $1,000. Jenkins and the source agreed to meet at a location in the Hagerstown area, where Jenkins had previously sold crack cocaine to the source. During the meeting, the source told Jenkins that his gun had been stolen and asked if Jenkins could get him one. Jenkins agreed that he could probably get the source a nine millimeter handgun, but that it would cost $600 or $700. The source gave Jenkins $1,000 in exchange for 30 grams of crack cocaine and then left the location. Jenkins later advised the source that he knew a “man” at a gun shop who would sell guns to anyone, without doing any criminal history checks or paperwork. On March 15, 2006, the source met Jenkins and they drove to a gun shop in Hagerstown. They went in, but left the shop after Jenkins said his “man” was not there. Jenkins agreed to sell the source his 9 mm Ruger handgun. Jenkins went to his residence and returned a short time later to where the source was waiting. Jenkins sold the source 13.6 grams of crack cocaine, a 9 mm Ruger, with a serial number which had been filed off and 50 rounds of ammunition.
Jenkins was charged in March 2006, but was a fugitive until his arrest on October 15, 2007, when he was found hiding in his underwear in an armoire at his girlfriend’s home.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Maryland State Police, Hagerstown Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Romano, who is prosecuting the case.