Baltimore, Maryland - Richard Smith, age 31, and Bruce Jeffries, age 36, both of Baltimore, Maryland each pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin.
The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
According to his plea agreement, beginning in at least January 2014 and continuing through Dec. 10, 2014, Smith conspired with others to distribute heroin in Baltimore. According to Jeffries’ plea, he joined the conspiracy in August 2014. During the conspiracy, Smith and Jeffries met with co-conspirators to provide heroin for distribution by members of the conspiracy. Smith was the supervisor of this conspiracy and was responsible for providing the heroin distributed by the co-conspirators. Between September and November of 2014, law enforcement intercepted telephone conversations between Smith, Jeffries, and other conspirators. During these calls, Smith and Jeffries were heard discussing the distribution and payment for various amounts of heroin. Smith was also intercepted giving members of the conspiracy instructions regarding the distribution of narcotics. On Nov. 14, 2014, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a “stash" house used by members of the conspiracy. During the search, law enforcement recovered 400 gel capsules of heroin from inside the stash house, along with another 100 gel capsules of heroin from a co-conspirator. This seizure precipitated intercepted phone conversations between Jeffries, Smith, and another co-conspirator regarding the seizure.
Smith and Jeffries agree that during their participation in the conspiracy, the conspirators were responsible for the distribution of between one and three kilograms of heroin. To date, 12 co-conspirators, including Smith and Jeffries, have pleaded guilty to their roles in the heroin distribution conspiracy and one defendant has been sentenced to seven years in prison. The remaining defendants are awaiting sentencing.
Smith and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement Smith will be sentenced to 12 years in prison. Jeffries faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison. U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. has scheduled sentencing for Smith and Jeffries on December 14 and Dec. 15, respectively, each at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Baltimore City Police Department, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Matthew Hoff, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, part of the Baltimore initiative to combat violent crime, who is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
