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Press Release

Federal Jury Convicts Four Baltimore Area Drug Dealers In Conspiracy To Distribute Kilograms Of Cocaine And Heroin

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maryland
Five Additional Defendants Previously Pleaded Guilty in Scheme

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury today convicted Jermaine Cannady, a/k/a “Main,” age 39; Cornell Dion Brown, a/k/a “Nelly,” age 29; Dominic William Parker, a/k/a “Nick,” age 30, all of Baltimore; and Ronald Timothy Sampson, a/k/a “Little Ronald,” age 35, of Windsor Mills, Maryland for conspiracy to distribute kilograms of cocaine and/or heroin, and for attempting to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and/or heroin.

The guilty verdicts were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department.

 According to evidence presented at the nine day trial, on August 11, 2014, each of the defendants agreed to purchase kilogram amounts of cocaine and/or heroin from a cooperating individual (CI).  Law enforcement had previously seized 25 kilograms of cocaine and six kilograms of heroin from a concealed compartment in a motor home that the CI used to transport the drugs from California to Maryland.  The defendants agreed to meet the CI in the parking lot of a Baltimore area mall to complete the drug transaction.  The telephone calls with the defendants arranging the transactions were recorded.

Witnesses testified that Brown and co-defendant Tavon Hopkins were arrested after they arrived to pick up the four kilograms of cocaine they had agreed to purchase from the CI.  At the time of their arrest, law enforcement recovered $157,000 in cash from a bag in their vehicle.  Cannady and Parker were also arrested when they arrived at the meeting location to pick up the cocaine and heroin requested by Cannady.  No cash was recovered from Cannady and Parker, although the CI explained that they were usually provided with heroin and cocaine without payment up front.  Cannady and Parker had in their possession multiple cell phones and a police scanner.

According to evidence presented at trial, Sampson indicated that he wished to purchase a kilogram each of cocaine and heroin.  Sampson told the CI that he was calling up his buyers to get as much money as possible to give to the CI for the purchase of the cocaine and heroin.  When Sampson met the CI to complete the drug transaction, he was also arrested.  Law enforcement seized $10,500 after a search of Sampson and his vehicle.

The defendants each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and/or heroin, and for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine and/or heroin. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for Sampson, Parker, Cannady and Brown on June 24, June 26, June 29, and June 30, 2015, respectively.

Four co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to their participation in the scheme to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine: Antoine DeMarr Washington, age 42, of Washington, D.C.; Guy Bordes Agnant, Jr., age 38, of Laurel, Maryland; Tavon Alexander Louis Hopkins, age 38, of Baltimore; and Vincent Cooper, age 47, of Washington, D.C.  Donte Eugene Taylor, age 39, of Baltimore also pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme. All are awaiting sentencing.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, DEA and Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Romano and Seema Mittal, who are prosecuting the case.

Updated March 20, 2015

Topic
Drug Trafficking