Baltimore, Maryland – In a gritty blow against organized crime, U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson today sentenced Rodney Gaines, 35, of Westminster, to 23 years in federal prison, plus five years of supervised release.
Gaines was convicted on April 4th of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, as well as possession of firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes. He faced additional charges for distributing cocaine and ordering the murder of a man in Westminster last January.
Judge Abelson cited enhancements due to Gaines’s leadership role in a violent drug conspiracy, noting his involvement in firearm acquisition and threats. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced the sentence alongside top law enforcement officials from the FBI, Maryland State Police, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and Westminster Police Department.
Wiretaps revealed coded conversations about cocaine sales, with terms like “powder” and “8-balls.” Law enforcement seized cocaine from Gaines’s customers and recovered over $250,000 in drug proceeds. The jury found the conspiracy involved 280 grams or more of cocaine base, triggering a mandatory minimum sentence.
Defense evidence highlighted Gaines’s use of firearms, including attempts to obtain them in early 2022. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, MSP, and local law enforcement, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai N. Everett and Michael C. Hanlon for their prosecution.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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