Baltimore, Maryland - Four defendants were sentenced to at least 10 years in prison in connection with a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and/or heroin, for attempting to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and/or heroin, and committing these crimes while on supervised release from previous federal convictions. All four defendants were convicted on March 20, 2015, after a nine day trial. Five other defendants previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Richard D Bennett sentenced Cornell Dion Brown, a/k/a “Nelly," age 29, of Baltimore on June 30, 2015, to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin, and for attempting to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
On June 29, 2015, Judge Bennett sentenced Germaine Cannady, a/k/a “Jermaine Cannady," and “Main," age 39, to a total of 18 years in prison: 16 years in prison, followed by six years of supervised release, for the drug conviction; and two years in prison, consecutive to the sentence for the drug conviction, for violating his supervised release from two previous federal convictions. On June 26, 2015, Judge Bennett sentenced Dominic William Parker, a/k/a “Nick," age 30, of Baltimore, to a total of 151 months in prison; 121 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for the drug conviction; and an additional 30 months in prison for violating his supervised release from a previous federal conviction.
On June 25, 2015, Judge Bennett sentenced co-defendant Ronald Timothy Sampson, a/k/a “Little Ronald," age 35, of Windsor Mills, Maryland, to a total of 13 years in prison: eight years in prison, followed by eight years of supervised release, for his role in the drug conspiracy; and five years in prison, consecutive to the sentence imposed for the drug conspiracy, for violating his supervised release from a previous federal conviction.
The sentences 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; Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Shawn Ellerman of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department.
At the nine-day trial, the government argued that on Aug. 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 Brown 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 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.
According to court documents and their plea agreements, on Aug. 11, 2014, Guy Agnant, Jr., Donte Taylor, and Antoine Washington were contacted by a cooperating individual (CI) concerning their desire to obtain drugs. As a result of the call from the CI, Agnant indicated to the CI that he wanted to purchase five kilograms of cocaine and Taylor indicated a desire to purchase cocaine and heroin. Agnant and Taylor went to meet the CI and were arrested. Washington traveled with co-defendant Vincent Cooper to meet the CI in order to purchase five kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin. Law enforcement saw Washington and Cooper arrive at the arranged meeting place and they were arrested. Between Washington and Cooper they had with them more than $223,000 to purchase the drugs.
Guy Bordes Agnant, Jr., age 38, of Laurel, Maryland was sentenced to 10 years in prison, for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Judge Bennett sentenced Antoine DeMarr Washington, age 42, of Washington, D.C. and Donte Eugene Taylor, age 39, of Baltimore, to 12 years in prison and five years in prison, respectively. Washington and Taylor had previously pleaded guilty to attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and heroin. Vincent Cooper, age 47, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 11 years in prison, for his participation in the drug conspiracy and Tavon Alexander Louis Hopkins, age 38, of Baltimore also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison.
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 prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
