FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
December 1, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PDL BLOODS DRUG SUPPLIER SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE HEROIN
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Eric Richardson, age 48, of Baltimore, today to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute drugs. Judge Quarles enhanced Richardson’s sentence upon finding that Richardson is a career offender based on four prior convictions for burglary, breaking and entering, and battery.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III.
According to Richardson’s plea agreement, from August 2008 to May 2009, Richardson, aka “Father,” conspired with others to distribute heroin in Baltimore. Richardson sold heroin, collected money from drug customers and possessed firearms. Richardson also alerted gang members to the presence of law enforcement. The distribution of at least 1 kilogram of heroin was reasonably foreseeable to Richardson during the course of the conspiracy.
United States Attorney Rosenstein and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Jessamy expressed their appreciation to Secretary Gary D. Maynard and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for their assistance in the investigation.
Mr. Rosenstein and Mrs. Jessamy also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kwame J. Manley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci Robinson, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to EXILE cases, who prosecuted the conspiracy case, and Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorneys Staci Pipkin and Brandis Marsh, who assisted in the prosecution.