Leader of Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Anthony Niles, age 37, of Bowie, Maryland today to 10 years in prison followed by eight years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Kevin Perkins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Darrell Gilliard of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Washington Field Office; Chief Hank Stawinski of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief T. N. Treschuk of the Rockville City Police Department; Captain Timothy Lloyd of the Hackensack (New Jersey) Police Department; and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy.  

According to his plea agreement, from February to June 8, 2015, Niles supplied co-defendants Vincent Collins, Sierra Lynch, Abdul Sauda and others with large quantities of heroin for re-distribution.  Niles used a music studio known as “Crooked House Entertainment,” located at 7922 and 7924 Cryden Way, District Heights, Maryland as a “stash” house to store and distribute drugs.

After monitoring numerous cell phone calls pursuant to a court order in which Niles and his co-defendants discussed drug transactions, on June 8, 2015, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Nile’s residence.  Before law enforcement entered the residence, Niles attempted to flush several ounces of heroin down the toilet.  Officers subsequently recovered approximately 107 grams of heroin from the toilet. Officers also discovered a trail of heroin on the floor leading from Niles’ bedroom to the bathroom.  Niles was storing the heroin in a vent beside his bed.  Officers also seized approximately $6,156, and items used for the packing and distribution of drugs, such as digital scales and a heavy-duty industrial press.

Niles admitted that during the conspiracy he distributed between 700 and 1,000 grams of heroin.

On May 17, 1999, Niles pled guilty to distributing cocaine in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Prince George’s County, Maryland.  He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, with all but six months suspended.

Vincent Collins, age 37, of Oxon Hill, Maryland; Sierra Lynch, age 38, of Beltsville, Maryland; and Abdul Hakim Sauda, age 30, of Laurel, Maryland all pleaded guilty to their participation in the drug conspiracy.  Sauda was sentenced on May 2, 2016 to one year and one day in prison.  Collins and Lynch await sentencing.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI, the Montgomery County Police Department, NCIS, Prince George’s County Police Department and the Rockville and Hackensack (New Jersey) Police Departments for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein commended the Bergen County State’s Attorney’s Office and Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance, and thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel C. Gardner and Joseph R. Baldwin, who prosecuted the case.