BALTIMORE, MD – Khary Owens, a 44-year-old Baltimore man, is headed to federal prison for five years after admitting to running a cocaine operation and illegally possessing a loaded firearm. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett handed down the sentence yesterday, adding three years of supervised release to the term.
The bust went down in October 2020 after Baltimore Police detectives zeroed in on a Sheridan Avenue residence suspected of being a drug house. According to court documents, detectives conducted covert surveillance and observed Owens engaging in blatant hand-to-hand drug transactions on the front porch and sidewalk. It wasn’t just dealing; Owens was actively working the corner.
When detectives moved in to execute a search warrant on October 7th, Owens bolted, ditching a package containing 58 vials of cocaine out of a second-story window. The package landed in the backyard, conveniently within reach of waiting officers. A search of Owens’ abandoned backpack revealed a .45-caliber handgun, fully loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition, alongside materials used for cutting and packaging the drugs. The evidence painted a clear picture: Owens wasn’t just selling cocaine; he was armed and ready to protect his operation.
Owens pleaded guilty, admitting his intent to distribute the cocaine and acknowledging that the firearm was directly linked to his drug trafficking activities. Federal prosecutors highlighted the connection, demonstrating that Owens wasn’t simply carrying a gun, but using it to facilitate his criminal enterprise. This isn’t a case of incidental possession; this was a dealer protecting his product and his profits.
The case was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division and the Baltimore Police Department. U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron praised both agencies for their work, emphasizing the importance of collaborative law enforcement in tackling violent crime. The operation falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal program aimed at reducing gun violence and making communities safer.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Tsuei led the prosecution. While the five-year sentence offers some measure of justice, the streets of Baltimore remain flooded with drugs and the threat of violence. This case, like so many others, is a grim reminder of the constant battle to reclaim the city from the grip of criminal activity. The U.S. Attorney’s Office can be reached at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md for further information.
Related Federal Cases
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- Tomas Alonso Moreno, Cocaine Trafficking, TX, 2014 · Illinois
- David Bazan, Cocaine Trafficking, Beaufort TX, 2023 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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