Baltimore Heroin Dealer Sentenced To Over 12 Years In Prison

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Shawn Hearn, age 42, of Baltimore, Maryland today to 151 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute approximately 10 kilograms of heroin.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.

According to his plea agreement, on September 25, 2014, the Baltimore Police Department Ceasefire unit executed a search warrant at Hearn’s home in the 2500 block of Oakley Avenue, in Baltimore.  Hearn drove up in his vehicle, but was stopped prior to entering the home. Hearn was shown a copy of the signed search warrant, and then stated, “yeah, I got something.”  When asked by the officers, what he had, Hearn replied, “some heroin.”  Hearn took the officers to his bedroom and directed the officers to the location in the room where officers recovered approximately 10 kilograms of heroin and approximately $825,000 in cash.  The street value of the heroin was approximately $10 million.  The officers also recovered various items used in the processing of heroin for distribution including approximately 70 bars of mannite, a heroin diluent.

 According to court documents, in 2000 Hearn was also convicted of a federal drug trafficking charge.  In that case Hearn was in possession of approximately 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, as well as 80 grams of crack cocaine.  Hearn was sentenced on December 6, 2000 to 110 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, which he completed in 2011.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the DEA, Baltimore Police Department, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Wallner, who prosecuted the case.