Curtis Bay Crack Dealer Exiled to Over 21 Years in Prison

BALTIMORE, MD—U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Lonnie Bivins, age 31, of Baltimore today to 262 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Motz enhanced Bivins’ sentence upon finding that he was a career offender based on two previous narcotics convictions.

According to his plea agreement, from 2005 through 2008, Bivins and others participated in a conspiracy to sell crack cocaine and powder cocaine in the Curtis Bay area of Baltimore. Bivins collected proceeds of these sales, ranging from $500 to $4000 per day, delivered crack cocaine to customers and assisted other co-conspirators in the drug operation.

Throughout 2007 and 2008, law enforcement authorities observed Bivins engaging in drug transactions and on February 14, 2008, arrested Bivins in the 4900 block of Pennington Avenue with crack cocaine. Law enforcement also made undercover buys of crack cocaine from Bivins on March 28, 2008, April 24, 2008, and May 15, 2008.

During the drug conspiracy, Bivins admitted that he was responsible for the distribution of  between 1.5 and 4.5 kilograms of crack cocaine.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy and her office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Baltimore City Police Department for their work in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorney Kwame J. Manley, who prosecuted the case.