Dean Schroyer Pleads Guilty to Marijuana Distribution
Co-defendant Devon Dixon Previously Pleaded Guilty to Gun and Drug Charges
Baltimore, Maryland - Dean Edward Schroyer, Jr., age 22, of Elkridge, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. On December 30, 2010, co-defendant Devon O’Brian Dixon, also age 22, of Elkridge, pleaded guilty to the same charge and to being a felon in possession of a gun.
The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Chief William J. McMahon of the Howard County Police Department; and Howard County State’s Attorney Dario Broccolino.
According to their guilty pleas, Schroyer owns a house trailer located in Elkridge Maryland, where Dixon also lived following his release from prison. On August 8, 2007, Schroyer purchased a Maverick 12 gauge shotgun, Model 88, and on June 19, 2009, Schroyer purchased a Glock 40 caliber handgun, Model 23. Schroyer purchased the trailer and the weapons using proceeds from the sale of marijuana, which he distributed from at least January 2008 until November 1, 2009, in the Howard County area. Schroyer packaged and sold the marijuana from his trailer as well as other locations. Schroyer distributed more than 40 pounds of marijuana.
On November 1, 2009, the Howard County Police Department executed a search warrant at Schroyer’s trailer. From Schroyer’s bedroom they recovered over 1.75 pounds of marijuana, a digital scale and narcotics packaging material, the fully loaded Glock 40 caliber handgun that Schroyer purchased on June 19, 2009, ammunition and an empty Glock magazine.
From Dixon’s bedroom, officers recovered Speer .380 auto bullets; over six ounces of marijuana; the Maverick Model 88, 12 gauge shotgun, which Schroyer had purchased on August 8, 2007, fully loaded with Remington shotgun shells; and a digital scale with marijuana residue, recovered from inside the HVAC ducts in the ceiling. Dixon had been convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery, illegal possession of a firearm and theft in Howard County Circuit Court and was prohibited from possessing a gun. Schroyer was aware of Dixon’s previous convictions.
Earlier in the morning on November 1, 2009, Dixon sent a text message to a friend acknowledging that he possessed a firearm and asking the friend if he should bring it to a party that the friend was attending.
Schroyer and Dixon face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Dixon also faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz has scheduled sentencing for Schroyer on March 25, 2011, and for Dixon on March 29, 2011.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Howard County Police Department and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Sandra Wilkinson, who are prosecuting the case.
