Nineteen Alleged Members of West Baltimore Drug Trafficking Organization Facing Federal Firearms and Drug Distribution Charges

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury late yesterday returned a second superseding indictment charging 19 Baltimore men for a federal drug conspiracy and related firearms charges.  Charged in the indictment are:

Calvin Matthews, a.k.a. “Billy” and “Wayne,” age 39;
Waymond Richard, a.k.a. “Squirt,” “Slim,” and “Thugga,” age 24;
Branden Jones, a.k.a. “BR,” age 20;
Isadore White, a.k.a. “Hatch” and “Nook,” age 21;
Nelson Adibe, a.k.a. “Rock” and “Rockhead,” age 54;
Shanee Burtwell, age 35;
Murray Ray, a.k.a. “Mario,” age 21;
Randolph Evans, a.k.a. “Buddha” and “Booda,” age 26;
Nol Johnson, a.k.a. “Pookie,” age 28;
Kenneth Jones, a.k.a. “Hammer,” age 26;
Darnell Sullivan, a.k.a. “50,” age 23;
Yaunike Hilton-Bey, a.k.a. “Neek,” age 21;
Elijah Davis, a.k.a. “Gusto,” age 22;
Malik Cauthorne, a.k.a. “Smoke,” age 24;
Arthur Snowden, a.k.a. “Weechy,” age 38;
Devron Towson, age 27;
Rashawn Cooper, age 20;
Deondre Pederson, a.k.a. “Jim,” age 23; and
Daveon Mcfadden, a.k.a. “Dee,” age 20.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Interim Commissioner Gary Tuggle of the Baltimore Police Department.

“This year, more than twice as many people will die of fentanyl overdoses in Baltimore than of gun violence,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Drug dealing and gun violence often go hand in hand.  We will continue to apply federal resources to prosecute those who use guns to distribute drugs – peddling death and despair in our neighborhoods.”

“Today's announcement is a direct result of the hard work and dedication shared between local and federal authorities in our efforts to combat gang members who distribute dangerous drugs like heroin and fentanyl in our communities,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Gordon Johnson. “These charges demonstrate our overall strategy and relentless determination to eradicate the drug-fueled gang violence plaguing our communities.  The FBI and our partners will continue to pursue investigations into individuals and groups who have furthered the scourge of opioids in our communities."

According to the 19-count indictment, the defendants allegedly conspired to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin and 400 grams of fentanyl.  The indictment also alleges that seven of the defendants conspired to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking.  Six of those seven individuals are alleged to be previously convicted felons and therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

If convicted, the defendants all face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for the drug conspiracy.  Calvin Matthews, Waymond Richard, Isadore White, Murray Ray, Elijah Davis, Devron Towson, and Rashawn Cooper each face a maximum of 20 years in prison for the firearms conspiracy and all but Ray also face a maximum of 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Matthews, Richard, Ray, and Cooper face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Finally, Matthews, Richard, Ray, and Cooper each face a maximum of 20 years in prison for distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.  The defendants have not yet been scheduled for initial appearances on these charges.

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. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Task Force and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys David D. Metcalf and Zachary B. Stendig, who are prosecuting the case.

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