Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Christopher Thornton, age 26, of Baltimore, today to 11 years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute heroin.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts.
According to his plea agreement, from July to December 2012, Thornton distributed heroin in Baltimore City; regularly collected cash drug proceeds from other members of the conspiracy; and communicated with the leaders of the conspiracy about the conspiracy’s operations. Federal agents used wire intercepts of cellular telephones of Thornton’s associates to record Thornton discussing his drug activities with other members of the conspiracy.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the DEA, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney's Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Michael C. Hanlon and Special Assistant United States Attorney H. Brandis Marsh, Jr., a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to Exile cases, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
