Bengi Bernard Knox, 47, of White Plains, Maryland, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to distribute phencyclidine (PCP). The sentence was handed down by Judge Lydia K. Griggsby.
The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to Knox's guilty plea entered on February 20, 2025, he conspired with Kevin Lee Simon Jr., Malik Marvin Lloyd, and others to distribute PCP between December 2022 and March 29, 2023. On January 5 and January 6, 2023, law enforcement observed meetings between Knox and Lloyd involving the distribution of PCP in Washington D.C.
On February 7, 2023, Simon informed Knox about a new source for PCP. During a phone call described in court documents, Simon told Knox that the supplier offered “super crunch” PCP unaltered for $13,500 per gallon or altered with a cutting agent for $12,500 per gallon.
Law enforcement executed search warrants at Knox’s residence and vehicle on March 29, 2023. Officers recovered nearly 61 grams of PCP; over 23 grams of cocaine; less than one gram of heroin mixed with fentanyl; a Glock Model 43 pistol loaded with ammunition; additional rounds; and approximately $2,257 in cash. The firearm was found near a bottle containing PCP.
Co-defendants have also been sentenced: On May 29, Judge Griggsby sentenced Simon to twelve years in prison on related drug trafficking and firearms charges. On June 5, Lloyd received an eight-year sentence for similar offenses.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF uses collaboration among federal agencies as well as state and local partners to target major criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking across the United States through intelligence-driven strategies (https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf).
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, ATF and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work on this case. Hayes also recognized Assistant U.S. Attorneys Coreen Mao and Timothy Hagan for prosecuting the matter.
Further information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
