Reisterstown Man Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison For Supplying Heroin To An Eastern Shore Drug Trafficker

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Gary Tyrone Kess, age 37, of Reisterstown, Maryland today to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess 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 William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Caroline County Sheriff Randy Bounds; and Caroline County State’s Attorney Jonathan Newell.

According to his plea agreement, in June 2014, Kess supplied heroin to an Eastern Shore drug trafficker.  On June 14, 2014, law enforcement observed a co-conspirator complete a transaction in Kess’ minivan.  On June 16, 2014, law enforcement intercepted a text message between the co-conspirator and Kess arranging a transaction for 150 grams of heroin.  The next day, the co-conspirator was observed briefly meeting with Kess.  On June 23, 2014, law enforcement saw Kess meet with the co-conspirator in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant in Severna Park, Maryland.  The co-conspirator entered Kess’ minivan and two minutes later exited the vehicle.  Shortly thereafter, Kess was stopped for a traffic violation.  After a canine alerted for the presence of narcotics, the vehicle was searched and law enforcement recovered 150 grams of heroin and $6,000 packaged in bank envelopes.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the HSI Baltimore, and the members of the Caroline County Drug Task Force – the Maryland State Police, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office, and the Caroline County State’s Attorney’s Office, for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew C. Sullivan and Christopher J. Romano, who prosecuted the case.