Armed Drug Trafficker Convicted on Federal Murder, Gun, and Drug Charges
Was an Associate of the Violent “Murdaland Mafia Piru” Bloods Gang
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Sydni Frazier, a/k/a Sid, Junior Boss, and Perry, age 26, of Baltimore, Maryland late yesterday on a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and possession of firearms by a felon. Frazier went to trial last year with members and associates of the Murdaland Mafia Piru (MMP), a subset of the Bloods gang, but had a mistrial after his lawyer had a medical emergency.
The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to get guns out of the hands of drug dealers and off of our streets, in order to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods. If you use a gun, you could face federal time, where there is no parole—ever. Please, put down the guns and save a life—maybe even your own.”
According to the evidence presented at Frazier’s six-day trial, between at least 2014 and 2017, Frazier conspired with others, including members and associates of the MMP gang, to distribute narcotics. For many years, MMP controlled the drug trade in large swaths of Northwest Baltimore City and neighboring Baltimore County, including Forest Park, Windsor Mill, Gwynn Oak, Howard Park, and Woodlawn. The gang’s drug shop in the 5200 block of Windsor Mill Road was particularly lucrative due to its close proximity to Interstate 70, and it frequently attracted drug customers driving from Western Maryland and neighboring states.
The evidence presented at trial established that on August 10, 2016, Frazier and his co-conspirators kidnapped, robbed, and murdered Ricardo Johnson in order to enrich themselves and their drug trafficking conspiracy. The victim was abducted at approximately 2:30 am as he was returning home to his apartment in the 1100 block of West Lanvale Street in Baltimore. Less than four hours later, the victim’s body was discovered in the back of a stolen minivan parked next to the light rail tracks in the 2200 block of Kloman Street. Johnson had been bound by the wrists and ankles, blindfolded, and shot over twenty times. There was partially burned flammable material sticking out of the gas tank of the van, indicating that the killers had attempted to set the van on fire before departing the scene.
Less than twelve hours after Johnson’s body was found, members of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) attempted to stop Frazier for riding an illegal dirt bike in the 2100 block of Tucker Lane. Frazier fled and was able to get away, but in the process of fleeing, he abandoned the dirt bike as well as a backpack and gloves he had been wearing. The backpack contained two cell phones belonging to Frazier and two loaded 9mm caliber handguns. Both guns were a ballistic match to the 9mm caliber casings recovered from the murder scene. In addition, the BPD DNA and Serology laboratory determined that Frazier’s DNA profile matched DNA from the insides of the gloves, and the victim’s DNA profile matched DNA from the outsides of the gloves. Frazier illegally possessed the two loaded 9mm firearms, as he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to previous felony convictions.
Frazier faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking resulting in death; a maximum of 40 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl; and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for possession of firearms by a felon. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for May 29, 2020, at 9:30 a.m.
On February 20, 2020, co-defendant Corloyd Anderson, a/k/a Bo, age 37, of Baltimore, was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise related to his participation in the gang activities of the MMP gang. Anderson was convicted on April 30, 2019, after a six-week trial. The evidence showed that Anderson supplied large volumes of heroin to members of MMP for distribution in MMP’s territory in the area of Windsor Mill Road and Forest Park Avenue. There was also evidence presented that Anderson disposed of a murder weapon for MMP Boss Dontray Johnson, a/k/a “Bino,” and he illegally possessed a loaded handgun after having been convicted of at least three prior felonies.
This 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. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the ATF, the Baltimore City and Baltimore County Police Departments, and the Baltimore City and Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Offices for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Christina Hoffman, Lauren E. Perry, and Christopher M. Rigali, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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