Jermol McCoy, Fentanyl and Heroin Conspiracy, Maryland 2020

A Catonsville man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin in Baltimore, federal prosecutors announced yesterday.

Jermol McCoy, age 37, of Catonsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. At the guilty plea hearing, McCoy also admitted that he committed this crime while on supervised release for a previous federal drug conviction.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and other law enforcement officials.

According to his guilty plea, from at least 2018 through 2019, McCoy conspired with others to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine in and around Baltimore. During the investigation, law enforcement intercepted phone calls and text messages in which McCoy made plans to distribute drugs, spoke about the hierarchy of the drug trafficking organization, and discussed methods to avoid detection by law enforcement.

On November 21, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at McCoy's apartment in Catonsville, which he used to manufacture and distribute controlled substances. Law enforcement recovered 4.9 grams of fentanyl in a plastic bag behind the microwave, cutting agent, and drug paraphernalia, including a kilogram press, digital scales, three boxes of plastic baggies, and cellular phones. In addition, law enforcement recovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol concealed in a bag in the bedroom. McCoy is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as a result of his previous felony conviction.

McCoy and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, McCoy will be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for December 15, 2020.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA, the ATF, the Baltimore Police Department, MSP, DPSCS and the Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joan C. Mathias and Michael C. Hanlon, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

The case is part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. Attorney's Office to combat the opioid crisis and disrupt and dismantle the networks responsible for distributing fentanyl and heroin in Maryland.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/catonsville-drug-dealer-pleads-guilty-federal-charge-conspiring-distribute-fentanyl-and