Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Richard Brown, age 28, of Lanham, Maryland, today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP).
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Gerido of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to Brown’s plea agreement, from December 2012 through January 2013, Brown conspired with others to distribute PCP. Specifically, on four occasions between December 5, 2012 and Jan. 16, 2013, Brown distributed approximately 401 grams (over 14 ounces) of PCP to a cooperating witness, meeting the witness at the Suitland and Capitol Heights Metro stations to conduct the transactions. On Jan. 31, 2013, the cooperating witness arranged to purchase 16 ounces of PCP from Brown. As Brown arrived at the meeting location, law enforcement agents approached the vehicle to arrest him. Brown was sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle holding a 32-ounce bottle that was half full of liquid. The agents saw Brown dump the contents of the bottle onto the passenger floorboard. Agents seized the bottle, which still contained three ounces of PCP, and soaked two rags with the remaining PCP that was spilled onto the floor and preserved the rags as evidence.
Brown admits that he distributed between 700 grams and one kilogram of PCP during the time of the conspiracy.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the DEA, ATF and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven E. Swaney and Arun G. Rao, who prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
