A Baltimore man, Raymond Williams, 36, has been sentenced to 121 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana in Maryland. Williams was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute between 1,400 and 2,000 pounds of marijuana as part of a drug organization that operated in the Latrobe Homes area of East Baltimore and elsewhere.
Williams was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake on March 24, 2011. In addition to his prison sentence, Williams was ordered to forfeit over $315,000, including $101,580 seized during a search of his home, and a Land Rover.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Brisolari of the Drug Enforcement Administration – Washington Field Division; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein.
According to Williams’ plea agreement, from at least 2008 through March 10, 2011, Williams participated in a conspiracy to distribute drugs in the Latrobe Homes area of Baltimore and elsewhere, purchasing significant quantities of marijuana from suppliers in California, and selling marijuana to other conspirators for further distribution.
Between June 2010 and March 2011, Williams, who lives in Maryland, maintained a residence in San Diego, California, which functioned as a distribution center for his drug trafficking operation. Williams used the home to receive large quantities of marijuana, which were then broken down into smaller quantities by Williams and others for shipment to purchasers around the country.
Williams oversaw an operation in which he and his associates shipped boxes of marijuana weighing between 10 and 25 pounds each from California to locations in Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania for distribution in Maryland. Law enforcement agents have identified more than 500 pounds of marijuana shipments associated with accounts Williams maintained at a shipping company between December 2010 and March 2011.
Williams sent some of the proceeds of the marijuana sales back to California to purchase more marijuana for distribution. Williams mailed cash to associates in California, transferred drug proceeds deposited in Maryland bank accounts to individuals in California, and paid couriers to fly to California carrying large amounts of cash on their persons and in their luggage.
During the investigation, U.S. Postal Inspectors seized a total of $214,280 in cash from packages mailed or received by individuals associated with the conspiracy, including $15,000 that was seized from a package that, during surveillance of Williams, law enforcement had seen being mailed on Williams’ behalf. In addition, $101,580 in cash was recovered on March 10, 2011, during a search of Williams’ San Diego house, along with trace amounts of marijuana and handwritten instructions on how to package marijuana for shipment.
Williams admits that the money seized was the proceeds of drug trafficking.
Related Federal Cases
- Raymond Williams, Marijuana Distribution, Maryland 2011 · Washington
- Austin Roberts, III, Cocaine Distribution, Maryland 2013 · Washington
- Seth Logan Welsh, Conspiracy to Commit Healthcare Fraud, Maryland 2024 · Washington
- Michael Akame Ngwese Ay Makoge, Unemployment Insurance Fraud, Maryland 2022 · Washington
- Amos Oluremi Nureni, Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy, Maryland 2024 · Kansas
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking