Allen Johnson, Possession with Intent to Distribute Narcotics, Mary…

Baltimore felon Allen Johnson, 38, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison on April 25, 2019, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute narcotics and illegal possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow, includes five years of supervised release following his incarceration.

The violent arrest unfolded on November 29, 2017, in the 800 block of Bridgeview Avenue in the Cherry Hill/Brooklyn neighborhood. Baltimore City Police responded to a tip that an armed man had a firearm hidden in his waistband. Officers arrived to find a man matching the description—later identified as Johnson. When ordered to show his hands, Johnson turned away and reached toward his waistband.

As one officer moved in, Johnson tried to flee. The officer grabbed him from behind, but Johnson continued struggling, repeatedly reaching for his waist. During the physical confrontation, the gun concealed on his person discharged—striking the officer in the wrist. Another officer quickly deployed a Taser, subduing Johnson long enough to handcuff and arrest him.

A search incident to arrest turned up 19 vials of cocaine and $80 in cash. Johnson admitted he intended to distribute the narcotics, confirming the drug trafficking charge. Federal prosecutors emphasized that Johnson, a previously convicted felon, was legally barred from possessing any firearm—a fact that intensified the severity of his sentence.

“This officer, like all law enforcement officers, put his life on the line in order to make our community safer,” said United States Attorney Robert K. Hur. “All too often, guns and drugs go hand in hand—and both are killers. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to get both off of our streets and to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods.”

The investigation was jointly led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division and the Baltimore City Police Department. Hur commended the agencies for their relentless work in prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Sippel, Jr., Patricia C. McLane, and Lindsey McCulley handled the prosecution.

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