Cocaine Trafficker Found Guilty by a Federal Jury of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Ian Fitzroy Watson, also known as Jay Watson, of Hughesville, Maryland, was found guilty on October 8, 2009, by a federal jury of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine, Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced today. Watson, 43, will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton on January 22, 2010. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, Watson is facing a likely sentence of between 20 and 25 years in prison.

According to the government’s evidence presented at trial, beginning on or about January 1, 2003, up until December 1, 2005, the defendant, Ian Fitzroy Watson, conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine. During the government’s investigation, a cooperating witness (CW) made controlled purchases of cocaine from the defendant and his co-conspirator. More specifically, on January 6, 2005 and January 26, 2005, the CW made controlled purchases of approximately 125 grams of cocaine powder from Watson and his co-conspirator.

In addition, on February 4, 2005, the defendant was stopped going southbound on Interstate 95 near Baltimore by Maryland State Police officers and a search of his vehicle revealed more than a kilogram of cocaine secreted in the spare tire compartment. A search warrant was later executed at Watson's residence, in Hughesville, Maryland where officers seized a digital scale, drug paraphernalia and money hidden in his bedroom. Some serial numbers on the bills seized during this search matched serial numbers on the photocopied buy money from the January 26, 2005, sale to the CW. The government’s evidence also included several hours of wiretap surveillance evidence in which multiple phone calls between the defendant and the CW were recorded. Watson’s drug activities extended to the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

In announcing the jury’s verdict, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips commended agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington Field Office, and Prince George’s County Police Detective Michael Margolis, Metropolitan Police Detectives Barbara Lyles, Rick Watkins, and Anthony Washington, and Maryland State Police Corporals Andy Johnson, Patrick McAllister, and Chris Skinner, for their work on the investigation of this case. In addition, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips praised Legal Assistants Candace Battle, Catherine O”Neal, John Russell, and Tammy Scott, and Paralegal Supervisor Mary Downing, who assisted in the investigation, as well as, Litigation Support personnel Thomas Royal and Victim Witness Unit Specialist Dawn Tolson-Hightower. Finally, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys William J. O’Malley and Emory V. Cole, who investigated and prosecuted this matter.