Member of the Jenifer Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Kermit Clark, age 44, of Baltimore, today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, in connection with his participation in the Jenifer drug trafficking organization (Jenifer DTO).

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Shawn R. Ellerman of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Special Agent in Charge Thomas Jankowski of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; Interim Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department.

“This investigation highlights how DEA Baltimore successfully conducts long-term complex investigations,” stated Acting ASAC Shawn Ellerman.  “The case stretched from Staten Island, New York to Houston, TX and I want to commend the agents for their careful and methodical work which resulted in the dismantling of a large scale drug trafficking organization that imported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into the Baltimore area.” 

According to his plea agreement, from September 2012 to October 2014, the Jenifer DTO supplied Clark and others with kilogram-quantities of cocaine for distribution in and around the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan areas.  Clark became a member of the conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

The Jenifer DTO obtained its cocaine from suppliers in or around Houston, Texas.  The Jenifer DTO would transport money hidden in secret compartments in “courier vehicles” from Baltimore to Houston.  The cocaine was then transported from Houston to Baltimore in the Jenifer DTO’s courier vehicles.  In July 2013, a courier vehicle for the Jenifer DTO was intercepted in Arkansas that contained approximately 23 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment.   Between August 2013 and October 2014, approximately 30 shipments of cocaine, concealed in secret compartments in the Jenifer DTO’s courier vehicles, were made to the Jenifer DTO.  On October 9, 2014, approximately 27 kilograms of cocaine were seized from one of the Jenifer DTO’s courier vehicles. .

Clark agreed that he was a member and co-conspirator of the Jenifer DTO, which was responsible for trafficking no less than 750 kilograms of cocaine from Houston to Baltimore from August 2013 to October 2014.

William Hegie, age 54, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to his participation in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation and Baltimore City and County Police Departments for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr., who prosecuted the case, and expressed his appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Texas and the Southern District of New York for their assistance in this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.