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

AUGUST 24, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THREE BALTIMORE DRUG DEALERS SENTENCED TO
LENGTHY PRISON TERMS

Baltimore, Maryland - Three Baltimore drug dealers were sentenced today to lengthy prison terms in separate proceedings in federal district court, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

U.S. District Judge Andre M.. Davis sentenced Kevin Burrell, age 49, to 10 years in prison, followed by 66 months of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and five kilograms or more of cocaine. According to his plea agreement, DEA received information that Burrell was to obtain heroin and cocaine from his New York source of supply on January 11, 2007. Burrell met that day with a DEA undercover agent (UC) posing as a representative of the New York source of supply. After Burrell gave the UC over $75,000 as partial payment for the drugs, Burrell and the UC walked to a vehicle which contained the narcotics. Burrell was arrested and agents recovered the money.

Judge Davis also sentenced Jermaine Hardy, age 33, to 125 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of crack cocaine. According to the plea agreement, from February to September, 2006, Hardy agreed to distribute crack cocaine base and less than 2 kilograms of crack cocaine for others to resell in the Baltimore area. Agents seized approximately 125 grams of crack cocaine and a handgun from Hardy’s residence on September 27, 2006.

U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Elliott Gray, age 37, today to 188 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Judge Quarles enhanced Gray’s sentence upon finding that he is a career offender based on two previous convictions for distribution of drugs. According to his guilty plea, Gray sold 55.29 grams of crack cocaine and 46.21 grams of powder cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer on five occasions from November to December, 2006. Gray also quoted a price of $3,400 for an eighth of a kilogram of cocaine, $95 per gram for raw heroin and $200 per pill of Ecstacy. Officers searched his residences on February 2, 2007 and seized additional bags of cocaine, $600, drug scales and sifter, a box of 44 caliber ammunition and 12 gauge shotgun shells.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baltimore City Police Department for their investigative work, and recognized the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force for its assistance in the Burrell case. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher J. Romano, Charles Peters, and Kwame J. Manley, who prosecuted these cases.