Baltimore DJ Sentenced to over 11 Years on Drug Charges

Baltimore - U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Darnell Anthony Young, age 30, of Owings Mill, Maryland, today to 136 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Young, also known as “DJ Nelly Nell,” worked as a DJ at clubs in and around Baltimore City and was convicted by a federal jury on August 29, 2007.

According to the evidence presented during his two day trial, Young conspired with Howard Rice, age 41, Raeshio Rice, age 35, and Errol Wynter, age 35, all of Baltimore, to distribute cocaine in northwest Baltimore City. Testimony showed that on November 6, 2006 law enforcement observed Errol Wynter arrive at Young’s residence and leave a few minutes later with a red plastic bag. Officers stopped Wynter’s car and recovered numerous cell phones and the red plastic bag, which was filled with over $39,000 in cash. Officers subsequently arrested Young and seized from his residence two kilograms of cocaine found on the kitchen counter, three additional kilograms of cocaine hidden in the washing machine, approximately $17,000 in cash, seven cell phones and a Blackberry device.

Howard and Raeshio Rice, the leaders of the narcotics organization, pleaded guilty to drug distribution charges and were sentenced to 30 years and 27 years in federal prison, respectively. Errol Winter also pleaded guilty to drug charges and was sentenced to 70 months in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Baltimore City Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore City for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein also thanked the United States Attorneys’ Offices for the Central District of California and the Southern District of New York, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York and Los Angeles offices, and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Los Angeles office for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein also commended Assistant United States Attorneys Steven H. Levin and Jason M. Weinstein, who prosecuted the case.