Baltimore, MD – Elias Nick Costianes, 44, of Nottingham, Maryland, pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges, including possession of firearms and ammunition by an unlawful user of any controlled substance.
According to the plea agreement, on February 12, 2021, the FBI executed search warrants at Costianes’s residence, vehicle, and cellphone. Costianes was taken into custody pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Costianes told agents that he kept four firearms in cases in the basement. Law enforcement searched the basement and recovered the four firearms described by Costianes: a 9mm pistol; a M&P 15 semi-automatic rifle; a .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle; and a 12-gauge shotgun, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition.
The electronic evidence from Costianes’ phone revealed that he illegally used cocaine, testosterone, and marijuana. Costianes admitted that he purchased cocaine and testosterone for his personal use and conspired to distribute, and did distribute, cocaine and testosterone to others.
Costianes and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, the government will recommend that Costianes not be sentenced to more than 37 months in prison. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for September 25, 2023, at 10 a.m.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey J. Izant and P. Michael Cunningham, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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