From August 2013 to October 2014, Jenifer Drug Trafficking Organization Trafficked at Least 750 Kilograms of Cocaine Intended for Distribution in the Baltimore-Washington Area
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Elroy Johnson, age 49, of Baltimore, today to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, in connection with his participation in the Jenifer drug trafficking organization (Jenifer DTO).
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Shawn R. Ellerman of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Special Agent in Charge Thomas Jankowski of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; Interim Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, from September 2012 to October 2014, the Jenifer DTO supplied Johnson and others with kilogram-quantities of cocaine for distribution in and around the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan areas. The Jenifer DTO obtained its cocaine from suppliers in or around Houston, Texas. The Jenifer DTO transported money hidden in secret compartments in “courier vehicles" from Baltimore to Houston. The cocaine was then transported from Houston to Baltimore hidden in the secret compartments in the Jenifer DTO’s courier vehicles. In September 2012 and July 2013, courier vehicles for the Jenifer DTO were intercepted in Chambers County, Texas and in Arkansas. The vehicles contained approximately 30 kilograms and 23 kilograms, respectively, of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment. Between August 2013 and October 2014, approximately 30 shipments of cocaine were made to the Jenifer DTO.
In August and September 2014, agents saw Johnson meet with members of the Jenifer DTO to exchange money and obtain cocaine. On October 9, 2014, approximately 123 grams of cocaine was seized from Johnson’s residence. On that same day, approximately 27 kilograms of cocaine were seized from one of the Jenifer DTO’s courier vehicles.
Johnson admitted that he was a member and co-conspirator of the Jenifer DTO, which was responsible for trafficking no less than 750 kilograms of cocaine from Houston to Baltimore from August 2013 to October 2014.
William Hegie, age 54, and Kermit Clark, age 44, both of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to their participation in the conspiracy and were each sentenced to 10 years in prison.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation and Baltimore City and County Police Departments for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr., who prosecuted the case, and expressed his appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Texas and the Southern District of New York for their assistance in this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
