Baltimore Heroin Importer Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Adedeji Ajala, age 36, of Baltimore, Maryland today to seven years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to import heroin.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Postal Inspector in Charge Maria L. Kelokates of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office.

According to the evidence presented at his six day trial, two international parcels, one sent in July 2014 to the name “Wayne Adams,” at an address on Whittier Avenue in Baltimore; and one sent in August 2014 to the name “Bobby Mills,” at 3814 Old Frederick Road in Baltimore, are associated with Ajala.  Both packages were intercepted by investigators, searched pursuant to a federal search warrant, and found to contain a total of approximately 382.5 grams of heroin. 

On August 12 and August 14, 2014, undercover postal inspectors placed calls to an individual, later identified as Ajala, to arrange for a controlled delivery of the Old Frederick Road package.  During those calls, Ajala portrayed himself as “Bobby Mills,” and inquired about the whereabouts and pickup of the Old Frederick Package.  According to trial testimony, Ajala provided fraudulent identity documents, including a driver’s license and social security card in the name of “Bobby Mills,” to a co-conspirator, so that the co-conspirator could pick up the Old Frederick Road package.

According to evidence presented at trial, Ajala drove the co-conspirator to the Carroll Station Post Office on August 15, 2014, to attempt to pick up the Old Frederick Road package.  The co-conspirator went inside to get the package and was arrested almost immediately.  Shortly thereafter, several investigators approached Ajala, who was sitting outside in his car. Ajala sped off, striking two unmarked police cars with officers inside, and then fled on foot down an alley. 

Witnesses testified that law enforcement recovered several cell phones from Ajala’s abandoned vehicle.  One of those phones, found on the driver’s side floor, contained both the tracking number for the Whittier Package and the tracking number for the Old Frederick Package.  That same cell phone showed the two incoming calls, in which the undercover postal inspectors had spoken with Ajala about that package.  Another phone, found in the center console, contained the full address found on the Old Frederick Package.   

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised HSI Baltimore, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and DEA for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew C. Sullivan and Christopher J. Romano, who prosecuted the case.