SILVER SPRING, MD – A late-night jury delivered a guilty verdict to Darryl Colton Frazer, 34, of Silver Spring, Maryland, in a federal case exposing a dangerous cocktail of guns and drugs. Frazer and his co-defendant, Shamire Moore, 31, of Bowie, Maryland, were busted back in July 2019 after a frantic foot chase following a reported shooting. The evidence presented painted a clear picture: these men weren’t just holding drugs, they were armed and ready to protect their illegal enterprise.
The bust went down when Montgomery County Police officers, investigating a recent shooting, spotted Moore matching the description of a suspect. When officers approached, both Frazer and Moore bolted, triggering a chase into a residential area. Frazer was cornered in an apartment building, but not before he hurled a black bag from a stairwell. Inside that bag, police found a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol, 103 grams of marijuana neatly packaged, a digital scale, and latex gloves – everything needed to run a street-level operation. Adding insult to injury, Frazer was already on supervised release for a prior federal conviction, meaning he was legally prohibited from possessing either a firearm or ammunition.
Moore’s attempt to evade capture was equally brazen. He scaled a fence and jumped onto government property before being subdued after a struggle. His own black bag yielded a loaded .38 caliber revolver, 106 grams of marijuana, and another digital scale. A search of Moore’s person turned up $579 in cash, believed to be proceeds from his drug trafficking activities. Moore later admitted to possessing the marijuana with intent to distribute and that the firearm was intended, at least in part, to defend his drug stash and ill-gotten gains.
According to the plea agreement, Moore has agreed to a sentencing range of at least five, but not more than six years, in federal prison. Frazer, however, faces a significantly steeper penalty. He’s looking at up to 20 years behind bars for participating in a drug conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The judge will also consider a separate violation of his supervised release, potentially adding another two years to his sentence.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron, ATF Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby, and Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones. They emphasized that this prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort to reduce violent crime and gun violence at all levels of law enforcement. This isn’t just about taking down two men; it’s about disrupting the flow of illegal weapons and narcotics onto the streets of Maryland.
U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has yet to schedule sentencing dates for either Frazer or Moore. But one thing is certain: these two men will have plenty of time to reflect on their choices, and the consequences that came with them. This case serves as a stark reminder that engaging in illegal gun and drug activity carries severe penalties, and the ATF, along with local partners, will continue to pursue those who endanger our communities.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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