Rockville Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Laundering Over $2.5 Million of Drug Proceeds

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Issa Haddad, age 24, of Rockville, Maryland today to a year and a day in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for drug and money laundering conspiracies involving over 400 kilograms of marijuana, and more than $2.5 million in drug proceeds. Judge Motz also entered an order requiring Haddad to forfeit $2.5 million.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, from March 2010 to April 10, 2014, Haddad provided addresses in Montgomery County, Maryland and elsewhere to which co-conspirators in California would ship marijuana.  Haddad and others received packages of marijuana in Maryland, and Haddad was responsible for sending, receiving, and preparing for distribution. Ultimately, Haddad admitted that he conspired with others to distribute between 400 and 700 kilograms of marijuana in Maryland.

Members of the conspiracy provided Haddad with bank account numbers into which the proceeds from the sale of the marijuana were deposited.  Haddad and others deposited cash in amounts less than $10,000 into the provided banks accounts which were controlled by co-conspirators. These deposits of less than $10,000 were structured to evade IRS reporting requirements and conceal from the government large cash transactions by narcotics dealers.

Haddad admitted that he conspired to launder of between $2.5 million and $7 million of drug proceeds.

Seven co-defendants pleaded guilty to their participation in the drug and/or money laundering conspiracies, and were sentenced to up to seven years in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended HSI Baltimore and Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, who is prosecuting the case.