Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal court has sentenced Zaid Rushdan, a 41-year-old from Oxon Hill, Maryland, to 126 months in federal prison, followed by seven years of supervised release, for his role in a drug distribution conspiracy and the possession of stolen firearms.
According to his guilty plea, from at least December 2020 until February 11, 2021, Rushdan conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over one kilogram of phencyclidine (PCP) and over 28 grams of crack cocaine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating Rushdan and his co-conspirators for distributing narcotics in Southern Maryland and the District of Columbia. Agents determined that Co-Conspirator 1 was transporting drugs and drug proceeds to facilitate Rushdan’s drug trafficking business after seeing Co-Conspirator 1 at Rushdan’s apartment on multiple occasions, leaving and picking up bags at the apartment while traveling to and from drug trafficking locations.
On February 11, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Rushdan’s apartment and seized:
- over a gallon (4,486 grams) of PCP with a purity of between 7% and 12%
- approximately 299 grams of powder cocaine
- approximately 31 grams of crack cocaine
- plastic baggies containing pills and powders, subsequently identified to include 50 grams of heroin and 81.35 grams of Eutylone
- approximately seven pounds of marijuana
- seven handguns
- two rifles
- approximately 652 rounds of ammunition
- $14,485 in cash
Rushdan admitted that the $14,485 in cash were proceeds of his drug trafficking business and the firearms were used, or were intended to be used, to facilitate his drug trafficking. As detailed in his plea agreement, Rushdan also knew, or had reasonable cause to believe, that four of the firearms were stolen, specifically, a Glock .40 caliber pistol, a Springfield Armory .45 ACP pistol, a Smith and Wesson 9x19mm pistol, and an Auto-Ordnance Corporation .45 ACP pistol.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA, the ATF, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Town of Vienna, Virginia Police Department, the Alexandria, Virginia Police Department, the Virginia State Police, and the Fairfax County Police Department for their assistance in the case.
Related Federal Cases
- Zaid Rushdan, Federal Charges for Drug Distribution and Stolen Firearms, Maryland 2021 · Idaho
- Michael Brown, Tax Refund Scam, Maryland 2024 · District of Columbia
- Roger Anthony Williams, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, DC 2023 · Maryland
- Daquawn Lubin, Shooting Spree, Maryland 2023 · District of Columbia
- Daquawn Lubin, Shooting, Maryland 2024 · District of Columbia
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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