A Baltimore man has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to a drug trafficking conspiracy, according to an April 30 announcement by Kelly O. Hayes, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.
Jeremy Bethea, age 46, admitted guilt for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Authorities say Bethea and his co-conspirators were found with over 400 grams of fentanyl, more than 28 grams of crack cocaine, and additional quantities of cocaine intended for distribution.
According to the plea agreement, from August 2022 through October 2023 Bethea conspired with others to sell fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine in the Baltimore area. Undercover investigators conducted fifteen controlled purchases from Bethea between November 2022 and May 2023. In January 2023 alone he sold more than forty grams of fentanyl during one transaction. Investigators also used a federal wiretap on three cellphones associated with the group between June and August of that year. Law enforcement intercepted conversations discussing sales of various drugs.
On April 17, as a result of intercepted calls, police stopped a vehicle linked to a planned drug deal involving Bethea. Officers recovered several hundred gelcaps containing over four hundred grams of fentanyl confirmed by laboratory analysis. A search warrant executed at a Sharp-Leadenhall residence linked to Bethea led investigators to discover packaged crack cocaine for retail sale as well as marijuana.
Bethea faces mandatory minimum sentences: ten years up to life in prison for conspiracy charges and five years up to life for possession with intent charges. Sentencing will be determined by a federal judge who considers U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other factors.
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (HSTF) is described as "a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels" operating within the United States or abroad—placing emphasis on investigating crimes involving children—and includes agencies such as the FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; ATF; DEA; IRS-CI; U.S Marshals Service; Washington/Baltimore HIDTA; Maryland State Police; Baltimore Police Department; Baltimore County Police Department—all coordinated by the U.S Attorney’s Office for Maryland.
Hayes commended both DEA agents and local police officers involved in this investigation: "U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA and BPD for their work in the investigation." She also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tsuei who is prosecuting this case.
The U.S. Attorney's Office serves nearly six million residents across Maryland according to its official website. The office employs over two hundred personnel across civil, criminal, and administrative divisions according to its official website. It prosecutes federal crimes—including cases like this one—handles civil litigation on behalf of the government, collects debts owed by individuals or corporations according to its official website, enhances quality of life through justice administration according to its official website, counts alumni among prominent leaders according to its official website, partners closely with law enforcement agencies on public safety efforts while tracing origins back over two centuries according to its official website.
