Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Jerrod Fenwick, age 28, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 210 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for participating in a racketeering conspiracy through the Tree Top Piru Bloods (TTP Bloods).

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 Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Ava Cooper-Davis of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Wicomico County State’s Attorney Davis Ruark; Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis; the Washington County Narcotics Task Force led by Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore; Anne Arundel County Police Chief James Teare, Sr.; Acting Salisbury Police Chief Ivan E. Barkley; and Hagerstown Police Chief Arthur Smith.

“Through the hard work of numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, a high ranking member of a very dangerous street gang has been removed from the community for a significant period of time,” stated Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy. “This outcome demonstrates how effective law enforcement can be when different agencies work toward a common goal.”

TTP Bloods originated from a street gang known as “the Bloods” that was formed in Los Angeles, California in the early 1970s. The Bloods broke into individual “sets” including a subset known as Tree Top Pirus (TTP). TTP spread throughout the country, including Maryland. TTP in Maryland has its roots in a local gang which began in the Washington County Detention Center in Hagerstown, Maryland in about 1999. The gang was formed for mutual protection in response to the aggression of other inmates from Baltimore and spread throughout Maryland mostly by recruiting from inside Maryland prisons.

According to Fenwick’s plea agreement, Fenwick was a leader of the TTP Bloods. From at least 2005 through February 2008, Fenwick spoke with other TTP members on the phone about gang business, including drug trafficking. TTP members reported to Fenwick about the operations of a drug shop, and Fenwick and other TTP members discussed the collection of drug proceeds. Fenwick also sold drugs. During the course of the conspiracy, Fenwick was responsible for distributing 50 grams or more of crack cocaine and one kilogram or more of heroin, as well as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as Ecstasy.

This case is the result of a long-term joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Baltimore City Police Department, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office. Fourteen defendants, including Fenwick, have pleaded guilty to the RICO conspiracy and 11 of those have been sentenced to between 21 months and 30 years in prison. Sherman Pride, a/k/a Dark Black and DB, age 35, of Salisbury, Maryland; and Ronnie Thomas, a/k/a Rodney Thomas, Skinny Suge and Tall Vialz, age 36, of Baltimore, were convicted on January 28, 2010, of participating in the TTP racketeering conspiracy. Pride also was convicted of conspiring to distribute cocaine. Five defendants charged in the racketeering conspiracy, Keili Dyson, Anthony Fleming, Michelle Hebron, Tavon Mouzone and Keon Williams, are scheduled for trial starting March 22, 2010. Four defendants have pleaded guilty to gun or drug charges.

Mr. Rosenstein and Ms. Jessamy gave special thanks to Secretary Gary Maynard of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; Commissioner J. Michael Stouffer of the Maryland Division of Correction; Director Patrick McGee of the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation; and the officers at the Western and North Branch Correctional Institutions and the Wicomico County Detention Center for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

Mr. Rosenstein and Mrs. Jessamy also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hanlon, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Mason, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case, and Assistant State’s Attorney LaRai Forrest who assisted in the prosecution.