Reginald Leon Bolden, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base, Maryland 2020

Two Harford County men have pleaded guilty to their roles in a conspiracy to sell crack cocaine, authorities announced yesterday. Reginald Leon Bolden, 37, and Tremayne Gerrad Murphy, 40, both of Harford County, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base in U.S. District Court.

Bolden and Murphy were part of a larger drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed both powder and crack cocaine, according to investigators. Law enforcement observed numerous instances of drug-related activities, including a February 2020 trip to Wilmington, Delaware, where they met with a cocaine supplier and purchased nine ounces of cocaine.

As part of their plea agreements, Bolden and Murphy admitted to their roles in the conspiracy, which included the purchase and distribution of cocaine. On March 15, 2020, Bolden was intercepted during a purchase of three ounces of crack cocaine from co-defendant Joel Hammond.

Under the terms of their plea agreements, Bolden and Murphy will be sentenced to between 8 years and 9 years, and 60 months to 92 months in federal prison, respectively. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for November 2, 2021, and December 2, 2021, respectively.

The investigation was led by the Harford County Narcotics Task Force, which includes members from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Aberdeen Police Department, Bel Air Police Department, and Havre de Grace Police Department. The task force was assisted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baltimore County Police Department.

The prosecution of Bolden and Murphy is a significant blow to the DTO, which was responsible for distributing large quantities of cocaine in Harford County. The guilty pleas are a result of a lengthy investigation and cooperation between local and federal law enforcement agencies.

Co-defendant Joel Hammond previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine base on July 1, 2021.

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