News

Forestville Felon Exiled to 15 Years in Federal Prison For Gun and Drug Crimes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2008

Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. sentenced Roberto Garcia, age 33, of Forestville, Maryland, today to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a gun and ammunition, and for distributing cocaine, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Williams enhanced Garcia’s sentence upon finding that he is a career offender based on two previous convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

According to his guilty plea and court documents, Garcia sold cocaine to undercover Montgomery County Police detectives on four occasions in 2006. Garcia was arrested on September 20, 2006 when he entered the parking lot of a 7-11 located on New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland to sell cocaine to an undercover detective on a fifth occasion. Shortly before his arrest, Garcia swallowed an eight ball of crack for which he had to be admitted to the hospital. Officers recovered an additional 1.32 grams of cocaine and $1,040 from Garcia. They seized a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, nine rounds of ammunition and $4,830 from his residence. Because Garcia had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, it was illegal for him to possess the gun and ammunition.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Montgomery County Police Department and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their assistance in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele W. Sartori, who prosecuted the case.

 

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