Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Corey Hammond, age 30, of Houston, Texas, today to 20 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine. Hammond was convicted on March 8, 2018, after a four-day trial.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Baltimore District Office; Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department; Interim Police Commissioner Gary Tuggle of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
Evidence at trial established that the defendant was part of a conspiracy to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine. The drugs were transported from Houston, Texas to Baltimore, Maryland by vehicles equipped with hidden compartments, or “traps."
According to testimony at trial, law enforcement intercepted phone calls and text messages in which Hammond discussed drug transactions. Intercepted calls and text messages played at trial established that Hammond communicated in code with his co-conspirators discussing the amounts and payment for cocaine. One text message in particular indicated payment in the amount of $256,000 for 8 kilograms. Hammond took the stand at trial and falsely testified that he was selling car parts. Evidence at trial established the quantity of cocaine as being between 15-50 kilograms.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the DEA, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Romano and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Hann, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
