The Maryland EXILE program had an early Christmas gift for eight Baltimore men suspected of violating gun laws: federal indictments.
“The Maryland EXILE partners are making steady progress toward our goal of ensuring that criminals do hard time for gun crime,” said Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein, who is in charge of federal prosecutions in the state.
“We will meet with our partners in January to review our accomplishments over the past year and develop additional strategies for the future.”
The program, a joint effort by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, attacks gun crime from several angles, including community action, revitalization and public awareness.
In the past week, federal prosecutors obtained eight indictments for gun charges through the program with the help of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Baltimore City and Baltimore County officers.
The maximum penalties are:
» Ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of a firearm by a felon;
» Twenty years in prison and a $1 million fine for possession with intent to distribute cocaine or heroin;
» Life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime.
All the defendants are being taken into federal custody, prosecutors said.
Eight accused in weapon indictments
Federal indictments were obtained for:
»Collin Hawkins, 23, who is charged with possession of a 9 mm pistol and a Winchester sawed-off shotgun while being a convicted felon.
»Eric Keller, 41, who is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug-trafficking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
»Victor White, 48, who is charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
»Davon Johnson, 20; Cyros Beads, 21; Eric Woods, 22, also known as Eric Lynch; and David Williams, 26, each of whom were indicted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
»Antonio Johnson, 35, who was indicted for being a felon in possession of
