PCP Dealer Convicted of Gun and Drug Offenses

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury convicted George Jack Smith, age 28, of Burtonsville, Maryland, late yesterday for possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP), illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon; and using, carrying and discharging a weapon in connection with drug trafficking.                  

The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to evidence presented at the five day trial, on December 1, 2013, Smith got into a vehicle outside an apartment complex in the 9300 block of Cherry Hill Road in College Park, Maryland, in order to sell PCP to the vehicle’s occupants.  One of the vehicle’s occupants pulled out a knife.  Smith got out of the car and fired a gun in the direction of the vehicle as it drove away.  One of the bullets broke a pane of glass at the entrance to the apartment building.

Witnesses testified that a short time later, Smith got into a taxi, which was stopped by law enforcement at the apartment complex.  Smith was ordered out of the cab and taken into custody.  Law enforcement recovered the following items from the pockets of Smith’s jacket: a vial containing ¾ ounce of PCP; a loaded .380 caliber pistol, which had been reported stolen; and a .38 caliber revolver with five spent rounds.

Smith had at least two previous felony drug convictions and a conviction for robbery conspiracy, all in Montgomery County Circuit Court, and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Smith faces a maximum of  20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute PCP, a maximum of 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for using, carrying and discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.  U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has scheduled sentencing for April 1, 2016, at 2:00 p.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Nicolas A. Mitchell and Kristi N. O’Malley, who are prosecuting the case.