Score:   1
Docket Number:   D-MD  1:19-cr-00270
Case Name:   USA v. Jones
  Press Releases:
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted 19 Baltimore men on federal charges related to an alleged drug distribution conspiracy operating in Northwest Baltimore near the intersection of Liberty Heights Avenue and Garrison Boulevard.  The indictment was returned on June 27, 2019, and was unsealed today upon the execution of search warrants and the arrests of the defendants.  The following defendants, all from Baltimore, are charged in the indictment:

            Brandon Crawford, a/k/a Goat, age 38;

            Robert Anderson, a/k/a Rock, age 46;

            Daryl Burke, age 23;

            Linwood Davis, age 23;

            Marcus Hall, a/k/a Pill, age 18;

            Lewis Hayward, a/k/a Junebug, age 59;

            Antonio Johnson, a/k/a Sosa and Tony, age 26;

            Christopher Jones, age 24;

            Robert Jones, age 37;

            Moses Lewis, a/k/a Moe, age 35;

            Ronald McCormick, a/k/a Sleezy, age 36;

            Donald McNeill, age 35;

            Michael Mercer, age 32;

            James Murray, a/k/a Crazy James, age 21;

            Jermaine Porter, a/k/a Pistol, age 27;

            Ivan Potts, a/k/a Spottie, age 33;

            Sean Weston, age 52;

            Donte White, age 30; and

            Michael Williams, a/k/a Mega, age 28.

Another defendant, also named Michael Williams, age 28, of Baltimore was arrested today and charged by criminal complaint.                                             

The federal charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

“Armed drug traffickers are on notice that federal, state and local law enforcement are working together to target leaders and key members of violent gangs operating in Baltimore City,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We will not tolerate those who peddle death through drugs and gun violence in our neighborhoods. Gun crime can lead to federal time, where there is no parole—ever.  Please put down the gun.  You’ll save a life, maybe even your own.”

According to the indictment and court documents, beginning no later than 2018 and continuing through the filing of the indictment, the defendants allegedly operated a drug distribution operation in Northwest Baltimore, distributing heroin, crack and powder cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana in the area of Liberty Heights Avenue and Garrison Boulevard.   The indictment further alleges that several of the defendants illegally possessed firearms in relation to drug trafficking.  Before the indictment was returned, more than a dozen guns were seized from these defendants during the investigation.

Although not alleged in the indictment, the affidavit filed in support of the search warrants executed today alleges that the defendants are part of an organization called LNG.  According to the affidavit, LNG is comprised of two allied groups who work together:  the Yellow Bus Gang (YBG) Crips and the Black Guerilla Family (BGF).  The affidavit alleges that LNG members participate in violent acts, including a gunfight on January 19, 2019, that occurred at approximately 11 a.m.

Fifteen of the 20 defendants have been arrested and law enforcement executed search warrants at 14 locations today, seizing electronic devices, guns, drugs, drug paraphernalia, drug packaging materials, and cash.  Law enforcement is still searching for Antonio Johnson, Ivan Potts, Daryl Burke, Robert Anderson, and Christopher Jones.

If convicted, all of the defendants except C. Jones face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the drug conspiracy.  C. Jones faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison for the drug conspiracy.  McNeill and Mercer each face a maximum of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, respectively, and R. Jones faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.  For illegal possession of a firearm by a prohibited person Porter, White, Davis, C. Jones, and Mercer each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; McNeill and Lewis face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison; and R. Jones faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison.  Lewis and McNeill each face a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison for possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, while Mercer and R. Jones face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison for the same charge.  Finally, Sean Weston faces a maximum of three years in prison for selling drug paraphernalia

The defendants began having initial appearances today in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.  Hall, Davis, McNeill, and Porter have been detained pending detention hearings which are scheduled to begin tomorrow.

An indictment or criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment or criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA and Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation, and recognized the U.S. Marshals Service, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore County Police Department, the IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement and Removal Operations for their assistance with today’s arrests and search warrants.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew DellaBetta and James T. Wallner, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

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Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY

Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5

Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15

Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1

Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2

Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the second highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE2
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE2
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the third highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE3
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE3
Format: A3

Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5

Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8

Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10

Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2

Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
Format: YYYY

Data imported from FJC Integrated Database
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