Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Terrence Richardson, a/k/a “Squeaky,” “Don,” and “L-Don,” age 30, of Baltimore, today to two life terms in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with attempt to distribute drugs, and conspiracy to conduct and participate in the racketeering enterprise activities of the Pasadena Denver Lanes Bloods gang (PDL Bloods). Richardson was convicted at trial on March 19, 2010.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy; Special Agent in Charge Joseph Riehl of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III.

“Prosecutions of violent gang members save lives,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “By arresting Terrence Richardson on federal charges and removing him from the streets of Baltimore, law enforcement officers prevented him from killing a witness.”

“ATF’s Violent Crime Impact Team dismantled a very violent drug organization in Baltimore, whose sole purpose was to distribute illegal narcotics, and cause fear and intimidation in our neighborhoods,” says ATF Special Agent in Charge Joseph Riehl. “Our round-the-clock commitment with the Baltimore Police Department on this case prevented bloodshed on our streets. The relentless determination to prevent homicides from occurring is the most positive impact a law enforcement agency can have on a community,” says Riehl, “and ATF made it happen.”

According to trial testimony, Richardson was the leader of PDL Bloods, a violent gang with members operating in Baltimore. PDL Bloods originated from a street gang known as “the Bloods” that was formed in Los Angeles, California in the early 1970s. As time passed, the Bloods spread to other locations and broke into individual “sets.” One such Bloods set based in southern California was called Pasadena Denver Lanes. This Baltimore street gang was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of illegal narcotics, including crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Richardson and other PDL gang members committed acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, assaults, robberies and other violent acts from at least January 2008 through May 2009.

Testimony presented at the five day trial showed that Richardson ordered the murder of Brandon Eveline, aka “Evil,” on July 28, 2008 in the 1900 block of East North Avenue, Baltimore. Eveline was killed at Richardson’s direction. Richardson also ordered the murder of Robert Shaw, who Richardson believed had assaulted his girlfriend. ATF agents prevented this murder from occurring when they arrested Richardson, who was in a car on the way to Shaw’s house armed with two guns to commit the murder. Evidence showed that Richardson also agreed to kill a third witness, who was planning to testify in an upcoming trial in Baltimore City state court. Richardson planned to have his gang members throw a grenade into the home of that witness, in retaliation for that witness agreeing to testify in state court against a fellow gang member.

Trial evidence also showed that Richardson and other PDL members personally sold heroin, crack, cocaine and marijuana as part of the PDL activities. The jury found that Richardson and co-defendant Gregory Saulsbury were responsible for the distribution of at least 50 grams of crack cocaine, as well as powder cocaine.

Richardson ordered and participated in gang sanctions and other violence against PDL members. Some of these members were hospitalized because of their injuries.

PDL gang member Gregory Saulsbury, age 46, of Baltimore, was also convicted of the drug conspiracy along with Richardson at trial and faces a mandatory life sentence at his sentencing scheduled for tomorrow, June 23, 2010, at 9:30 a.m.

United States Attorney Rosenstein and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Jessamy expressed their appreciation to Secretary Gary D. Maynard and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for their assistance in the investigation.

Mr. Rosenstein and Mrs. Jessamy also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kwame J. Manley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci Robinson, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to EXILE cases, who prosecuted the RICO conspiracy case, and Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorneys Staci Pipkin and Brandis Marsh, who assisted in the prosecution.