Member of PCP Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. sentenced Ryan David Matthews, age 24, of Glen Burnie, Maryland to 14 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP). Judge Williams enhanced Matthews sentence upon finding that he is a career offender based upon two previous conviction for drug trafficking and violent crime.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Ava Cooper-Davis of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief James Teare, Sr.

According to Matthews’ guilty plea, on at least three occasions in and around October 2010, Matthews bought half-ounce bottles containing a total of approximately 42.525 grams of mixture containing PCP from co-conspirator Charles Downs. Additionally, on four occasions from July 2010 to March 2011, a confidential informant paid Matthews a total of $240 for cigarettes laced with PCP. Matthews was arrested on April 6, 2011. Law enforcement seized a bottle containing PCP on his person, along with $1,080 and plastic baggies from his residence.

Following the interception of wire and electronic communications occurring on telephones used by members of this organization, the DEA, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department executed 11 search warrants at a number of locations associated with members of this organization. During the course of this 17 month-long investigation, members of law enforcement seized a total of approximately 283 ounces of liquid PCP, 5.6 grams of cocaine, two handguns, and a Mercedes Benz CL 500.

Matthews is responsible for the distribution of at least 10 grams of PCP and 100 grams of a mixture containing PCP.

Charles Ladrell “Jody” Downs, age 40, of Glen Burnie and four other defendants have pleaded guilty to their participation in the conspiracy. Yesterday, co-defendant Darnell Eugene Duckett, age 48, of Temple Hills, Maryland was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Six other co-conspirators in related cases have also pleaded guilty to their participation in the drug conspiracy, four of which have been sentenced to between two to five years in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the DEA, Prince George’s County Police Department and Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in this long term investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Arun G. Rao and Adam K. Ake, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.