Robert K. Hur, Violent Crime Reduction, Maryland 2019

Violent Crime Reduction Efforts in Baltimore Yield Results

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur, along with federal, state, and local partners, announced that as a result of strategies applied to focus on the most violent neighborhoods and target those responsible for that violence, 90 defendants have been charged with federal crimes in investigations brought down in the last month, in separate drug conspiracies operating in the Northwest, Western, Eastern, and Southwestern Districts of Baltimore.

During those investigations, law enforcement has seized more than 51 guns, as well as kilogram quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana, and nearly $1 million in cash. The agencies involved in these investigations included the ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City.

As of July 31, we have indicted 215 defendants in 2019 in Baltimore under Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), our violent-crime reduction strategy. All of those defendants are members of violent drug trafficking organizations that have been operating in those Baltimore neighborhoods hardest hit by gun violence. By comparison, in 2018, we indicted a total of 246 Baltimore PSN defendants. At the current pace, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland anticipates charging 50% more violent crime defendants under our strategy this year than in 2018.

“Reducing violent crime in Baltimore is job one. It’s what we in law enforcement think about morning, noon, and night,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We will continue to do everything we can to prosecute the violent criminals who wreak havoc in and terrorize Baltimore’s neighborhoods.”

Recent Proactive Enforcement Efforts

Monument Street Drug Trafficking Organization (“DTO”) - In this case, 25 defendants were arrested and charged in a 30-count superseding indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury on June 26, 2019, and unsealed on July 19, 2019. The superseding indictment charges the defendants with conspiring to distribute narcotics in and around the 400 block of North Montford Avenue and Jefferson Street, and around the 2400 block of East Monument Street at Port Street. Beginning in July 2018, members of the conspiracy allegedly distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine to individual drug users, and in bulk quantities to other drug traffickers, who redistributed the drugs in and around Baltimore. Ten of the conspirators also face firearms charges—including eight defendants charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. During the investigation, law enforcement seized nine firearms, more than 14 kilograms of cocaine, approximately 4.5 kilograms of heroin, and 479 grams of fentanyl—enough to kill over 200,000 people. In addition, law enforcement seized more than $472,000 in cash and jewelry and vehicles worth more than $466,000.

Frederick and Collins - The superseding indictment returned on July 10, 2019, charges six defendants for a drug distribution conspiracy allegedly operating since January 2019 in the area of Frederick and Collins Streets in West Baltimore. In addition to the drug conspiracy, Jebriel Ali, a/k/a Bril, is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized five firearms, including a Glock pistol that was modified to fire as a fully-automatic gun. Ali is also charged with the possession with intent to distribute 400 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. If convicted, defendant Ali faces a minimum of 10 years imprisonment and up to life in prison. His co-defendants face maximum prison terms of 20 to 40 years.

Normandy, Franklin, and Loudon (NFL) - This investigation resulted in two indictments charging 15 defendants with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and other related charges. The defendants allegedly distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine in the area of Normandy, Franklin, and Loudon Streets in East Baltimore. During the investigation, law enforcement seized nine firearms, including a pistol and a shotgun, and approximately 3 kilograms of heroin. The investigation also resulted in the seizure of more than $100,000 in cash and other assets.

“Defendant Robert K. Hur, U.S. Attorney, Violent Crime Reduction, Maryland 2019

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/maryland-us-attorney-announces-recent-results-federal-efforts-reduce-violent-crime