Baltimore County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
Law Enforcement Recovered a Gun and Three Kilograms of Fentanyl—Enough to Kill More than 1.5 Million People
Baltimore, Maryland – Devon Denzel Thompson, age 26, of Woodlawn, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute three kilograms of fentanyl.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.
“Law enforcement partners are working together to arrest and prosecute those who peddle deadly fentanyl on our streets and in our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Drug traffickers are on notice that dealing in fentanyl increases their odds of federal prosecution. We will continue to do everything we can to reduce overdose deaths from this drug and from all opioids. Add a gun to that equation and you face an even longer sentence in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever. Please, put down the gun and save a life—maybe even your own.”
According to his plea agreement, on March 16, 2018, Thompson was pulled over for a traffic violation by Baltimore County Police Department officers. During the course of the traffic stop, law enforcement asked Thompson to get out of his vehicle, but he did not comply. Instead, Thompson drove away, followed by the Baltimore County officers, who observed Thompson throwing items out of the window. Ultimately, Thompson was stopped and placed under arrest. Law enforcement recovered a digital scale and other drug paraphernalia from the vehicle. Law enforcement recovered the items Thompson threw from his vehicle, including a baggie containing over 40 grams of fentanyl.
Based on those recoveries, a warrant was obtained to search Thompson’s residence. During the search, law enforcement recovered three kilograms of fentanyl and over $10,000 from Thompson’s bedroom and a .380-caliber handgun and rounds of live ammunition from other areas of the house. Thompson admitted that the drugs and gun were his and that he possessed the gun in connection with his drug distribution.
As part of his plea agreement, Thompson is required to forfeit any assets directly traceable to the offense, including $14,144 in cash and the .380-caliber firearm and ammunition recovered from his home.
Thompson and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Thompson will be sentenced to between 10 and 12 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has scheduled sentencing for December 20, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher M. Rigali and Lauren E. Perry, who are prosecuting the case.
###
