AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885

NOVEMBER 30, 2005

EAST BALTIMORE DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO LIFE PLUS FIVE YEARS FOR DRUG CONSPIRACY AND FIREARMS OFFENSES

BALTIMORE, Maryland - United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announces that today Darrell Alston, 42, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz to life plus 5 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Alston was convicted on September 23, 2005 following a four-day jury trial, of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base (crack), possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and two counts of witness intimidation.

According to the facts presented during the trial, from 2003 until 2005, Alston was the leader of a drug organization known as “Jigga”, which operated in East Baltimore. Based on the testimony of witnesses during the trial, the organization sold both heroin and cocaine base, in the area bounded by Holbrook, Hoffman, Ensor, Asquith and Lanvale Streets.

The witnesses also testified that the organization possessed various firearms to protect the drugs and drug proceeds. The trial testimony included descriptions of the organization employing various workers as lookouts, stash house workers and sellers. According to documents entered into evidence during the trial and the testimony of witnesses, Alston attempted to bribe and intimidate two witnesses to prevent their participation in the investigation of the organization.

On November 29, 2005, Anthony Chandler, 27, of Baltimore, Maryland, a co-defendant of Alston, was sentenced to 292 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release. Chandler pleaded guilty on September 7, 2005 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base.

United States Attorney Rosenstein thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baltimore City Police Department for their investigation. Mr. Rosenstein congratulated Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kwame J. Manley and Angela White, who prosecuted the case.