AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885

SEPTEMBER 25, 2007

SALISBURY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY POSSESSING 5 FIREARMS

Wicomico County Investigators Also Recover a Home Video of Defendant with Firearms, Threatening Judges, Prosecutors and Police

Baltimore, Maryland - Rufus Oliver Ryder, age 30, of Salisbury, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of firearms, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the plea agreement, Wicomico County investigators searched Ryder’s residence on December 8, 2006 and seized: a Mossberg, model 88, 12 gauge shotgun; a Mossberg, model 100ATF, .270 caliber rifle; a Smith and Wesson, model 2214, .22 caliber pistol; a Star, Bonifacio Echeverria, model Super SM, .380 caliber pistol; and a Criterian, Die and Machine, model CDM, .22 caliber revolver. Investigators also recovered a homemade video depicting Ryder with three of these firearms, stating that he was armed for a war against judges, prosecutors and police. Ryder had previously been convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, and of battery in the Circuit Court for Somerset County, Maryland.

Ryder faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for December 7, 2007 at 11:30 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office for their investigative work in this Wicomico County EXILE case. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Welsh, who is prosecuting the case.