Kelly Bowers, a 36-year-old resident of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, in coordination with officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Baltimore Field Office, the Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACOPD), and the Annapolis Police Department (APD).
According to court documents, FBI investigators identified Bowers in August 2022 as a member of a drug trafficking organization known as Newtowne 20 DTO that operated in the Annapolis area. Investigators used authorized wiretaps on electronic devices belonging to members of the organization. These interceptions allowed law enforcement to identify individuals involved in drug trafficking activities, including Bowers.
Other members charged in connection with this case include Leonard Simms, who received a 57-month sentence on July 1, 2025; Isiah Naylor, who entered a guilty plea on May 23, 2025; Raheem Allsup, sentenced to 48 months on May 9, 2025; and Keith Williams, sentenced to 68 months on November 19, 2024.
Bowers was identified as one of the main distributors for Newtowne 20 DTO. Law enforcement intercepted several calls between Bowers and his customers as well as conversations with co-conspirators. Surveillance conducted during the investigation observed Bowers participating in drug transactions.
On November 27, 2023, AACOPD officers saw Bowers conduct a hand-to-hand transaction with an individual known to use controlled substances while driving in Annapolis. Officers initiated a traffic stop and recovered drugs from both the buyer and Bowers’ vehicle; tests confirmed the presence of cocaine.
The federal wiretap investigation led authorities to execute search warrants at eight locations and four vehicles on January 25, 2024. Several individuals were arrested during this operation. Law enforcement recovered various types and quantities of drugs from three targeted locations and found one firearm at a co-conspirator’s residence.
In his plea agreement, Bowers admitted involvement in possessing at least forty grams of fentanyl as part of this conspiracy. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to forty years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Hayes stated: "I commend the FBI, AACOPD, and APD for their work in the investigation." She also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and Jon Tsuei for prosecuting the case.
Further information about resources available through the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/ and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
