AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885

December 1, 2006

MEMBER OF BALTIMORE DRUG GANG SENTENCED TO OVER 15 YEARS

East Baltimore Heroin and Cocaine Ring Dismantled by Federal/State Task Force

BALTIMORE, Maryland - Michael Cooper, age 33, of Baltimore was sentenced today to 15 years 8 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

All 17 defendants have pleaded guilty in connection with the operation of an East Baltimore drug organization and its sale of wholesale quantities of drugs throughout Maryland. The indictment also included $2,080,000 in criminal forfeiture. U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles ordered criminal forfeiture of several assets including two homes; a 2001 Peterbilt 379 Tri-Axle Dump Truck; 2000 Peterbilt 379 Tri-Axle Dump Truck; 2006 Peterbilt 379 Dump Truck; and over $26,000.

According to the statement of facts and other court documents, from December 1998 through March 2006, the conspirators sold large quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin from various locations in Baltimore, Maryland. The defendants set up wholesale cocaine deals, distributed drugs to customers, and collected money to further the goals of the drug conspiracy. Several defendants also possessed firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy.

Co-defendant Tavon Robinson, age 26, also of Baltimore was sentenced on November 9, 2006 to 27 years in prison. On October 6, 2006, co-defendant Walter Harris, age 35, of Baltimore was sentenced to 15 years, eight months in prison; Christopher Shaw, age 35, of Baltimore was sentenced to 10 years, 10 months in prison; and Antonio Jeffers, age 29, of Baltimore was sentenced to 46 months in prison. On October 13, 2006, co-defendant Balewa Mayo, age 29, of Baltimore was sentenced to 14 years in prison and Andre Miles, age 25 of Baltimore was sentenced on October 12, 2006 to 10 years, one month imprisonment. On November 3, 2006 Terrence Moody, age 41, of Baltimore was sentenced today to 21 years, 10 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, 50 grams of crack cocaine, and heroin; Larry Yarrall, age 30, and Lashavio Gilliam, age 37, both of Baltimore, were sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in prison and 10 years in prison, respectively, on the same charge.

The investigation was conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force ("OCDETF") program. The task force, which is composed of federal law enforcement agencies and chaired by the United States Attorney's office, evaluates and approves proposed narcotics investigations. OCDETF investigations typically target multi-defendant, multi-jurisdictional narcotics organizations where the joined efforts of federal and local agents are most effective. Once approved as an OCDETF case, the task force contributes to the payment of state and local law enforcement overtime expended on these cases. The Baltimore City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led this investigation.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baltimore Police Department, and praised Assistant United States Attorneys Kwame J. Manley and Robert R. Harding, who are prosecuting the case.