Maryland Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years for Drug Trafficking and Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for more than a decade for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing drugs, some of which contained fentanyl. 

The Honorable Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Anthony McNair, 37, to 140 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition and possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute. McNair, who received a 210-month federal sentence in the District of Columbia for multiple counts of robbery last year, will serve his Maryland sentence consecutive to the District of Columbia sentence.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).

According to the guilty plea, on April 21, 2022, PGPD officers conducted a traffic stop on McNair’s vehicle for multiple traffic violations in Suitland, Maryland. Prior to the traffic stop, officers observed McNair as he continued driving his vehicle for an additional 18 seconds before coming to a complete stop. Based on training and experience, officers knew that the “slow roll” technique is a way for individuals to attempt to hide contraband before officers approach a vehicle.

When officers approached, they smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Then McNair provided the officers with a driver’s license that belonged to someone else. After McNair handed an officer three bags of marijuana, totaling 19.5 grams, officers directed him to exit the vehicle.

In response, McNair began to rev the car engine in an apparent attempt to flee from the scene. The officers removed McNair from the vehicle and detained him. Law enforcement then recovered a firearm with nine rounds of .45 caliber ammunition from McNair’s vehicle. They also discovered approximately 43.4 grams of a white powdery substance in a clear glassine baggie; 26 blue pills; drug paraphernalia; a digital scale; and a box of sandwich baggies. This is McNair’s sixth felony conviction, and as a convicted felon, McNair is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Rosenthal and Patrick D. Kibbe, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanay Mitchell, who prosecuted the case. 

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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