Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Savino Braxton, age 58, of Baltimore, Maryland today to 20 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute heroin. The sentence imposed today is consecutive to the six months Judge Bredar imposed during the trial for contempt. A federal jury convicted Braxton on July 23, 2015.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department.
According to evidence presented at his four day trial, on Aug. 18, 2009, Braxton sold 50 grams of heroin to a confidential source. The source had previously paid Braxton $2,250 for the drugs. Both transactions occurred at an apartment used by Braxton on Goodnow Road in Baltimore. Following the two drug related transactions, a federal search warrant was obtained for the apartment. On Sept. 2, 2009, Braxton was arrested after leaving the apartment and driving to a parking lot on Sinclair Lane. Agents recovered 28 grams of heroin from the center console of Braxton’s vehicle. Keys recovered from Braxton were used to enter the Goodnow Road apartment used by Braxton. Agents recovered from the apartment: $4,270 in cash; a drug tally sheet bearing Braxton’s name; over 1 kilogram of heroin; and drug paraphernalia, including cutting agents, gel caps and scales. Braxton was charged and has his initial appearance on Sept. 3, 2009 and was released under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services. Braxton absconded from supervision and was located and arrested on Aug. 17, 2012.
According to court documents, Braxton was originally convicted of this charge on Feb. 11, 2013, after pleading guilty, and was sentenced on June 17, 2013, to 138 months in prison. Braxton appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals and the judgment was overturned on appeal, leading to his retrial in July 2015.
In 1991, Braxton was sentenced to over 17 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. He was released from prison in August 2006.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the DEA and Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Purcell and Kenneth S. Clark, who prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
