In a massive effort that combined federal, state and local law enforcement officers, authorities on Friday broke up what they call a “wide and complex” Baltimore drug distribution network with the arrest of 11 suspects.
Nearly 140 federal, state and local agents and officers executed 18 search warrants Friday in connection with the arrests of five suspects on federal charges and six on state charges.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives? Violent Crime Impact Team, working with the Baltimore Police Department, dismantled a “very violent” drug organization in the Edmondson Village area of West Baltimore, said Gregory K. Gant, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF.
“This organization?s sole purpose was to distribute illegal narcotics, which created a dangerous environment where people live and work,” Gant said.
“Today we are confident that we have made a significant impact on violent crime in our communities.”
Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said, “Our citizens deserve to live on streets that are free of drugs and violent crime.”
A federal grand jury indicted eight suspects, all from Baltimore, on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and heroin. A Baltimore City grand jury indicted nine suspects also on distribution of crack cocaine and heroin charges.
Baltimore City State?s Attorney Patricia Jessamy said, “Law enforcement will not tolerate these criminal activities, and we will use every available tool to dismantle these illegal drug gangs and prosecute these individuals to the fullest extent possible.”
The defendants in the federal case face a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, with a fine of $2 million for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Depending on their number of previous convictions, the suspects charged at the state level could face up to 40 years in prison.
