BALTIMORE, MD – The grease monkey facade of Paschall’s Auto Body Shop in Baltimore concealed a far more sinister operation: a bustling marketplace for illegal narcotics and the hub of a multi-state commercial burglary ring. Yesterday, the patriarch of the scheme, David Paschall, 56, of Catonsville, Maryland, received a 90-month federal prison sentence from U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz, followed by three years of supervised release. His son, Chad Paschall, 30, of Baltimore, already began serving a 37-month sentence on February 27, 2015, for his role in the conspiracies.
The sentences represent a significant blow to a network that flooded the Baltimore area with oxycodone, cocaine, and heroin, according to authorities. Gary Tuggle, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Baltimore District Office, stated the case highlights a growing problem of prescription drug trafficking fueling heroin addiction locally. “This was a very complex investigation,” Tuggle said, “and due to the diligent work of all involved, the leaders of this drug trafficking organization will now spend time in a federal prison far from home.”
Federal prosecutors detailed how Paschall’s Auto Body Shop, formerly located at 801 Desoto Road, wasn’t fixing cars so much as facilitating criminal enterprise. David Paschall routinely utilized five or more “brokers” to procure drugs almost daily, which he then peddled for profit or consumed himself. He wasn’t just a dealer; he was a supervisor, directing the distribution of narcotics. Adding another layer of danger, the shop was heavily armed, with David Paschall maintaining a cache of firearms, often carrying one on his person to protect the operation.
But the drug trafficking wasn’t the extent of the Paschalls’ criminal activity. The pair also confessed to orchestrating commercial burglaries across four states – Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Their targets included gas stations, convenience stores, banks, credit unions, and other businesses, where they systematically stole cash, money orders, stamps, silver bars, jewelry, cigarettes, lottery tickets, prescription drugs, food, beverages, safes, electronics, and even vehicles. A signature tactic involved disabling security systems by cutting power and communication lines before forcibly entering the premises using tools like vise grips, sledgehammers, and blow torches. They’d then often wait for extended periods – sometimes hours – before ransacking the establishment.
The financial toll of the Paschalls’ crimes is substantial. Judge Motz ordered David Paschall to forfeit a staggering $500,000, along with his ownership stake in Paschall’s Auto Body Shop, his residence, three firearms, and his vehicle. Chad Paschall was ordered to forfeit $250,000. The investigation involved a multi-agency effort, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and multiple local police departments.
The case was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, alongside representatives from the various involved agencies. While the Paschalls are headed to prison, the investigation serves as a stark reminder of the insidious ways criminal enterprises can embed themselves within seemingly legitimate businesses, and the relentless efforts required to dismantle them. This operation underscores the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and property crime plaguing the region, and the commitment of law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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