A Baltimore man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, followed by five years of supervised release. Khalil Dunaway, 29, received the sentence after pleading guilty to drug distribution charges.
The sentencing was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division and Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department.
According to court documents, detectives from the Baltimore County Police Department observed Dunaway making multiple hand-to-hand drug transactions in November 2023. Surveillance indicated that Dunaway spent his days at a residence in Pikesville and his nights at a Middle River address before returning to Pikesville each day.
On December 18, 2023, investigators executed search warrants at both residences. At the Pikesville location, law enforcement recovered several firearms including a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, Taurus Ultra-Light .38 caliber pistol, an AR-15 style ghost gun rifle, and other firearm accessories. They also seized about 969 grams of fentanyl packaged for distribution and roughly 1,273 grams of cocaine—some already packaged—along with equipment used for preparing drugs such as sifters, respirators, goggles, digital scales, kilo presses in backpacks, and cutting agents.
At the Middle River residence, police found more firearms including a Glock 33 .357 caliber pistol; a Glock 21 .45 caliber pistol reported stolen from Georgia; a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol; a loaded Rossi .22 caliber revolver; and various ammunition and magazines. Authorities also discovered approximately 63 grams of fentanyl and about 145 grams of cocaine along with tools used for packaging drugs. Jewelry valued at around $63,128 and $32,042 in cash were seized as well as multiple phones.
A vehicle belonging to Dunaway parked outside yielded approximately 60 suboxone strips plus additional phones and another digital scale.
Security camera footage from inside the Pikesville home between October and December 2023 showed Dunaway regularly mixing and packaging narcotics while wearing protective gear.
The investigation is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together law enforcement agencies at all levels with communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department launched its updated violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021 [https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-announces-new-strategy-combat-violent-crime], focusing on building trust within communities and supporting organizations working to prevent violence.
“U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA and Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. O’Donohue III who prosecuted the case.”
Further information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at justice.gov/usao-md [https://www.justice.gov/usao-md] or justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach [https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach].
