Fort Washington Crack Dealer Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Lavorris Hines, age 35, of Fort Washington, Maryland today to 25 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of crack cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hines was convicted on April 1, 2010, after a four day trial.

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 Roberto L. Hylton of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Riehl of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division.

According to testimony at Hines’ trial and court documents, in January of 2009, the DEA began investigating Hines for cocaine trafficking. According to a confidential source (CS), Hines and an associate, later identified as co-defendant Richard Atkins, distributed crack cocaine in a parking lot in the 2500 block of Corning Avenue in Fort Washington.

On January 28, 2009, the CS telephoned Hines and arranged to purchase an ounce of crack cocaine. Later that same day, law enforcement observed the CS meet with Atkins in a parking lot in the 2500 block of Corning Avenue, where Atkins sold the CS approximately one ounce of crack cocaine for $1,100, which was then provided to the CS by DEA agents. On February 9, 2009, the CS again telephoned Hines and arranged to purchase an ounce of crack cocaine. Later that same day, the CS traveled to the 2500 block of Corning Avenue where law enforcement saw Atkins meeting with other people. Hines sold the CS approximately one ounce of crack cocaine for $1,100, again provided to the CS by DEA agents.

On February 24, 2009, a DEA Task Force executed a search warrant at an apartment in the 2500 block of Corning Avenue. When law enforcement entered the apartment, Hines and Atkins were found inside. During the search, officers recovered approximately 12 ounces of powder cocaine and more than seven ounces of crack cocaine; almost 2 ounces of marijuana; drug paraphernalia, including digital scales; three handguns, including a pistol, a .38 special revolver with an obliterated serial number and a.38 special revolver; a loaded 12 gauge double barreled shotgun; three boxes of .38 caliber ammunition; one box of 9mm ammunition; one box of .357 caliber ammunition; $33,753 in cash; a currency counter; drug tally sheets; and a ballistic vest.

Richard Atkins, age 48, of Fort Washington, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine the day he was scheduled to go to trial. Judge Titus scheduled sentencing for Atkins on July 8, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan E. Foreman and Mara Zusman, who prosecuted the case.