Distributed at Least 450 Kilograms of Cocaine in Maryland and Virginia; Courier Murdered after Drug Seizure; Rolls Royce, Ferrari and Other Property Forfeited
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced the leader of the Jenifer drug trafficking organization (Jenifer DTO), Kedrick Arnold Jenifer, a/k/a “Ricky Jenifer," “James Howard Collier, Jr." and “Rick," age 44, of Bowie, Maryland, today to 20 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute cocaine. Judge Bennett entered an order requiring Jenifer to forfeit: three properties in Baltimore and one in North Miami, Florida; $111,772.19 in cash; bank accounts worth over $149,000; seven vehicles, including a 2013 Rolls-Royce Ghost and a 2014 Ferrari 458 Italia; jewelry valued at more than $575,000; as well as a boat, guns and other luxury items.
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; Special Agent in Charge Thomas Jankowski of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department.
“Kedrick Jenifer lived large as a major Baltimore drug dealer, but now he will lose all of his toys and live for two decades in federal prison," said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “The money, cars, jewelry, real estate and businesses he accumulated with drug proceeds were forfeited to the government."
According to his plea agreement and court documents, from September 2012 until his arrest in October 2014, Kedrick Jenifer was the head of the drug organization. He directed the collection and transportation of money from Baltimore to Houston, Texas. The Jenifer DTO would hide money in secret compartments in “courier vehicles" that were transported from Baltimore to Houston. Jenifer would then fly to Houston and obtain kilograms of cocaine from a source of supply. The cocaine was transported from Houston to Baltimore in the courier vehicles, and Jenifer would return to Baltimore via commercial air carrier.
According to court documents and information provided at today’s sentencing hearing, on Sept. 27, 2012, co-defendant Brooke Lunn was operating a courier vehicle near Houston when the vehicle was stopped by the Texas State Police. John Moore was a passenger in the vehicle. Lunn consented to a search of the vehicle and law enforcement recovered approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine that were located in hidden compartments in the vehicle. Both Lunn and Moore were arrested and charged by Texas authorities. After being released on bond, Lunn and Moore returned to Maryland. On Oct. 20, 2012, Moore suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the back of the head. Law enforcement agents believe that Moore’s homicide was the direct result of the cocaine seizure. Phone records reveal that John Moore was in contact with Jenifer prior to, the day of, and after the car stop.
In July 2013, a courier vehicle loaded on a car-carrier at Jenifer’s direction was intercepted in Arkansas. The vehicle contained approximately 23 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment.
Between August 2013 and October 2014, Jenifer directed approximately 30 shipments of cocaine concealed in secret compartments in the courier vehicles. After a courier vehicle would return to Baltimore from Houston, Jenifer was seen operating the hidden compartments in the courier vehicle and supplying other members of the Jenifer DTO with cocaine at their distribution location at RCH Plaza in west Baltimore.
Jenifer and/or co-defendant Tyrone Allen also made approximately 16 trips to Woodbridge, Virginia to deliver kilograms of cocaine to co-defendant Thomas Simmons.
On October 9, 2014, approximately 27 kilograms of cocaine were seized from one of the Jenifer DTO’s courier vehicles.
Jenifer agreed that he was responsible for the distribution of no less than 450 kilograms of cocaine between August 2013 and October 2014.
According to court documents, Jenifer was a co-owner of Flavor Factory, LLC, and Rita’s Italian Ice, located at 2033 Eastern Avenue in Baltimore. Jenifer has also forfeited his interest in these businesses.
Nine co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and been sentenced. Andre Brewer, age 36, of Jessup, Maryland; Michael Williams, age 41; Brooke Renee Lunn, a/k/a “Brooke Thomas" and “Brooke Renee," age 49; William Hegie, age 55; Kermit Clark, age 45; and Elroy Johnson, age 49, all of Baltimore; Tyrone Allen, age 44, of Bowie, Maryland; and Thomas Simmons, age 38, of Hampton, Virginia, were sentenced to between 10 and 16 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, 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. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr., who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
