Jerome Adolfo Castle, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana, Maryland 2013

Notorious Jamaican Drug Dealer Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

Baltimore, Maryland - A notorious Jamaican drug dealer was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in a large-scale cocaine and marijuana trafficking operation in Baltimore.

Jerome Adolfo Castle, also known as Dontwon Burris, a 35-year-old Jamaican citizen residing in Pikesville, Maryland, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III on [date] for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana; conspiracy to launder money; and illegally re-entering the United States after having previously been deported.

According to Castle's plea agreement, from March 2013 through April 22, 2013, Jerome Castle conspired with Josef Byrd, Harold Byrd, and others to distribute cocaine and marijuana. The operation, which was led by Castle, resulted in the distribution of large quantities of cocaine and marijuana throughout the Baltimore area.

On April 22, 2013, investigators arrested Josef Byrd and Harold Byrd as they took delivery of a shipment of approximately 500 pounds of marijuana at the commercial premises at 5819 Moravia Road, Baltimore, MD. Jerome Castle was conducting counter-surveillance during the marijuana delivery and fled from police in a Ford pick-up truck. Castle took the police on a high-speed chase at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour, and was arrested only after he crashed his vehicle into other vehicles parked in a used car lot in Harford County.

In search warrants executed later that day, law enforcement recovered over five kilograms of cocaine from each of the Byrd brothers' homes, with a street value of approximately $150,000. Law enforcement also recovered three handguns, one AK-47 (semi-automatic), and four sets of body armor from Harold Byrd's residence. Seventy-three black plastic containers used to conceal large quantities of marijuana during shipment from Arizona to Maryland were also recovered from Harold's home.

In addition to his drug activities, Jerome Castle conspired to conduct monetary transactions of more than $10,000 using the proceeds from the sale of cocaine and marijuana. These monetary transactions were primarily bank account deposits made by Castle under the name of Dontwon Burris. Between 2010 and April of 2013, Castle deposited approximately $300,000 in cash to bank accounts in the name of Dontwon Burris.

Castle was also ordered to forfeit $57,997 in cash, his interest in seven Baltimore properties, jewelry valued at more than $411,000, 98 pairs of men's shoes, two laptop computers, and an I-Pad, seven firearms and ammunition, as well as six vehicles, including a 2009 Jaguar XF Premium.

Brothers Harold Alexander Byrd, age 26, of Phoenix, Maryland, and Joseph Ibreham Byrd, age 34, of Owings Mills, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and were each sentenced to 10 years in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the DEA, Baltimore County Police Department, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations for their tireless efforts in bringing Castle to justice.

Castle's sentence is a significant blow to the Baltimore area's drug trafficking community, and serves as a reminder that law enforcement will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle these operations.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/jamaican-drug-dealer-sentenced-14-years-prison