FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACTAUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885 MAY 18, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ARMED PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY COCAINE DEALER SENTENCED TO OVER 12 YEARS ON FEDERAL CHARGES

Co-Defendant Sentenced to Life in Prison Earlier this Week in Conspiracy to Package and Sell Kilograms of Cocaine Imported from California

Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. sentenced Richard D. Briscoe, age 40, of Laurel, Maryland, today to 151 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for participating in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of cocaine in Maryland, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, "As a result of our partnership with DEA, FBI and local law enforcement officers, Mr. Briscoe and his fellow cocaine dealers will spend many years in federal prison, if not the rest of their lives."

According to the statement of facts presented to the court, Briscoe admitted that since 2000, he and his conspirators brought kilogram quantities of illegal drugs from California for distribution in Maryland and Washington, D.C. In April 2001, a vehicle delivering illegal drugs for the conspiracy traveled from California to Maryland, and was stopped in Frederick, Maryland. Police seized 33 kilograms of powder cocaine from a hidden compartment in the car. Some of the drugs were intended for Briscoe, who was to resell them. With Briscoe’s assistance, the conspiracy distributed over 35 kilograms of cocaine.

In October, 2003, a handgun was located inside a hidden compartment in Briscoe’s Lincoln Navigator, which was seized for forfeiture by the FBI. The compartment also contained visible residue of what was confirmed to be trace amounts of cocaine.

On October 15, 2003, Briscoe, Stevie Burton and another conspirator gave an individual $6,500 and 94.5 grams of crack cocaine in exchange for two Rolex watches and two Cartier watches that the three believed had been stolen. After Briscoe negotiated the deal, Burton hand-delivered the crack cocaine to this individual.

From at least the winter of 2002 until June 2004, Briscoe and Burton regularly used Burton’s apartment in Suitland, Maryland to store, weigh and repackage cocaine for distribution. On the evening of June 10, 2004, Burton and Briscoe met at the apartment so that Briscoe could deliver approximately two kilograms of powder cocaine to Burton. Later the same night, during the early morning hours of June 11, 2004, Burton was stopped by police for driving under the influence. Law enforcement officers discovered a package containing one kilogram of cocaine, and a heat-sealed package containing 1/4 kilogram of cocaine behind the driver’s seat in the car. The following individuals have also been convicted or sentenced in related cases.

On May 15, 2007, Evans Ray, Jr., age 47, of Ft. Washington, Maryland was sentenced to life in prison, after being convicted on charges of distributing crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a gun.

On April 13, 2007, Christopher Hall, age 44, of Brandywine, Maryland and William L. Handy, age 43, of Redondo Beach, California, were sentenced to 25 and 30 years in prison, respectively, after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and related offenses.

On February 26, 2007, Stevie Burton, age 43, of Forestville, Maryland, was sentenced to 352 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, for participating in a narcotics conspiracy and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Baron Watkins, age 42 of Suitland, Maryland and Anthony Jones, age 36 of, Forestville, Maryland were sentenced to 188 months in prison and 135 months in prison, respectively, followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to participating in the narcotics conspiracy. Issac Belt, age 26 of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was sentenced to 151 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to related narcotics charges.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Maryland State Police and the Prince George’s County Police Department in this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case, through the work of case agents Thomas Hickey, Cheyvoryea Gibson, and Timothy Stranahan. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and Bryan E. Foreman and Special Assistant United States Attorney, Del Wright, who prosecuted the cases.