FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
July 26, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TWO MEMBERS OF 4X4 DRUG ORGANIZATION EXILED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Shaun Hopkins, age 21, of
Baltimore, today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute powder and crack cocaine. Yesterday, Judge Blake sentenced Larry Carlos, age 23, of Baltimore, to 10 years in prison for the conspiracy. Judge Blake had also sentenced Raymond Moore, a/k/a “Money,” age 20, of Baltimore, to 10 years in prison on July 21, 2011.
The sentences were 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.
“ATF and the Baltimore Police Department waged a strategic investigation into the 4 X 4 area of the city,” says ATF Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop. “While this portion of the city posed some investigative challenges because of its location; our talented investigators were able to build solid cases against the defendants.”
According to their plea agreements, the indictment and other court documents, from at least June 2009 through August 2010, Hopkins and Carlos were part of a drug distribution organization that operated in the Northeast Baltimore neighborhood known as the “4x4." The “4x4” is a small, relatively closed neighborhood consisting of four streets running north-south and four streets running east-west. Ravenwood, Elmora, Lyndale and Elmley Avenues all run east and west and are one-way streets. Greenview, St. Cloud, Highview and Longview Avenues all run north and south and are two-way streets. The area is bordered on the east and west ends by Edison Highway and Belair Road, respectively.
According to their pleas and other court documents, law enforcement overheard Hopkins, Carlos and their co-conspirators discussing their drug activities, on court-ordered wire taps. Hopkins and Carlos admit that during the time of the conspiracy they distributed crack and powder cocaine, collected money from drug customers and distributors, and cooperated with and furthered the drug trafficking activities of other members of the drug conspiracy. Hopkins and Carlos admit that during the time of the conspiracy, they were responsible for the distribution of 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, and 5 kilograms or more of powder cocaine.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked ATF’s Violent Crime Impact Team, the Baltimore City Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein commended Special Assistant United States Attorney Traci L. Robinson, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, who prosecuted the case.