Baltimore, Maryland – In a major blow to the Cherry Hill gang, a notorious drug and gun supplier has been sentenced to over 11 years in prison. Nathaniel Lightford, aka ‘Taboo,’ a 35-year-old resident of Windsor Mill, Maryland, has been found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.
U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III handed down the sentence of 135 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Lightford’s crime spanned over a decade, dating back to at least 2003, when he became the main supplier of drugs to the Coppin Court group in the Cherry Hill section of Baltimore.
According to his plea agreement, Lightford supplied a group of Coppin Court members with crack cocaine and heroin, storing his drugs in a stash house located at 800 Bethune Road in Cherry Hill. In 2005, he supplied heroin to a highly successful heroin shop run by members of Coppin Court. On at least one occasion in 2012 or 2013, Lightford supplied at least one Coppin Court member with crack cocaine and heroin at his music studio, located in nearby Brooklyn.
The investigation revealed that Lightford not only supplied narcotics but also firearms, including at least one assault-type weapon, to the members of Coppin Court. He stored the firearms in locations around the Coppin Court area, making them accessible to members for protection from rival gangs or robbery.
Lightford’s involvement in the drug conspiracy led to the distribution of between three and 10 kilograms of heroin and between 840 grams and 2.8 kilograms of cocaine base. His actions have had a significant impact on the community, and his sentencing serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in such activities.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, Baltimore Police Department, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. He also thanked the FBI, Baltimore County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the case.
Nathaniel Lightford, 35, of Windsor Mill, Maryland, was sentenced to 135 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. His crime date spans at least 2003, and he stored his drugs in a stash house located at 800 Bethune Road in Cherry Hill. Lightford’s sentence includes five years of supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrea L. Smith, Seema Mittal, and Patricia McLane, with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
Baltimore, Maryland, is not immune to the scourge of crime. The sentencing of Nathaniel Lightford serves as a reminder of the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to combat organized crime and bring perpetrators to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Madani Ilara Tejan, Washington, D.C. Man Convicted for Gun Use & Drug Trafficking, Maryland 2018 · Washington
- Darryl Colton Frazer, Gun and Drug Conspiracy, Maryland 2023 · Alabama
- Elias Nick Costianes Jr., Drug Conspiracy & Firearms Charges, Maryland 2021 · District of Columbia
- Zaid Rushdan, Federal Charges for Drug Distribution and Stolen Firearms, Maryland 2021 · District of Columbia
- Vashawn Watkins, Federal Drug Charge & Firearm in School Zone, Maryland 2021 · District of Columbia
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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