Two Baltimore County Men Indicted in Federal Court for Allegedly Distributing Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine in Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Deandre Laquan Jones, a/k/a “Cuz,” age 26, of Towson, Maryland, and Tyrell Daront Curry, a/k/a “Mike,” age 28, of Baltimore, on the federal charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute drugs near a school, maintaining a drug-involved premises, as well as related firearms charges.  The indictment was returned on June 25, 2019, and was unsealed at their initial appearances. 

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.

U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “Guns and drugs take far too many lives in our communities.  All too often, guns and drugs go hand in hand—and both are killers.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and disrupt drug trafficking organizations, especially those who use guns and sell drugs near our schools.  Federal, state, and local law enforcement are united in our commitment to get guns, drugs, and violent criminals off our streets and to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods.”

According to the indictment, from December 2018 to February 2019, Jones and Curry distributed fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.  On February 22, 2019, Jones allegedly possessed fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine which he intended to distribute within 1,000 feet of a public elementary school.  The indictment alleges that during the time of the conspiracy Jones used an apartment in Parkville, Maryland, to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine.  Finally, as alleged in the indictment, Jones illegally possessed firearms and ammunition in furtherance of drug trafficking.

If convicted, Jones faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison for the conspiracy and for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine; a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 80 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute drugs within 1,000 feet of a school; a maximum of 20 years in prison for maintaining a drug-involved premises and for distribution of drugs; a maximum of 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition; and a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum sentence of life in prison for possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. 

If convicted, Curry faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison for the conspiracy, and a maximum of 20 years in prison for both possession with intent to distribute heroin, and for distribution of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.  

At their initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore yesterday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher ordered that Jones and Curry be detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for July 5, 2019 at 2:00 p.m, and July 8, 2019 at 2:30 p.m., respectively.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI Baltimore and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey J. Izant and Christopher J. Romano, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #