Baltimore Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Brian T. McClurkin, age 28, of Baltimore, today to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.

According to his plea agreement, from June through September 2014, McClurkin conspired with Phillip Vaughn and others to distribute heroin in Baltimore.  During July and August, McClurkin was overheard by law enforcement discussing the distribution of heroin on his cell phone.  On August 27, 2014, members of the Baltimore Police Department and DEA conducted undercover purchases of heroin from Vaughn and a co-conspirator.  During the purchases, Vaughn was observed brandishing a firearm.  Vaughn and the co-conspirator were subsequently arrested and the gun and additional quantities of heroin were recovered.  Both the heroin distribution and the firearm were discussed by McClurkin during calls intercepted by law enforcement.

McClurkin admitted that during his participation in the conspiracy between 100 grams and 1 kilogram of heroin was distributed.

Phillip Vaughn, age 26, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to five years in federal prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the DEA, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney=s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney H. Brandis Marsh, Jr., a cross-designated Baltimore Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to Exile cases, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.