Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Fatai Gafari, a/k/a Freak Dawg, age 28, of Temple Hills, Maryland, today to 151 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute phencyclidine (“PCP”), and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The sentence 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 Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “Fatai Gafari brought danger to our community through the deadly combination of guns and drugs.  Now he faces more than 12 years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever.  Please, put down the guns and save a life—maybe even your own.”

According to Gafari’s plea agreement, from July 2017 and continuing through December 2017, Gafari and co-defendants Marquez Gary Freeman, Jordan Lee Phillips, Javon Antonio Reid, Terrell Andre Shields, and Timmy Rae Shields, conspired to distribute PCP.  In general, Gafari and Timmy Shields—who operated at the direction and under the supervision of Gafari—worked together to supply Phillips, Reid, Freeman, and Terrell Shields with PCP.  Gafari often directed Timmy Shields to deliver PCP to and collect money from customers of both Gafari and Shields.  During the course of the conspiracy, Gafari distributed at least 273 fluid ounces of PCP, which equals approximately 5.7 kilograms of PCP.

In July 2017, Gafari supplied 16 ounces of PCP to Phillips, who in turn sold it to a cooperating source. On September 26, 2017, Gafari directed Timmy Shields to drive Gafari’s vehicle to Phillips’s residence in order to distribute six ounces of PCP to Phillips, which Phillips later sold to a cooperating source.

On November 20, 2017, Gafari sold PCP “dippers”, which are cigarettes dipped in PCP and then smoked, to users on Parkway Terrace in Suitland, Maryland.  Law enforcement officers stopped Gafari in his vehicle as he left the area.  When he was stopped, Gafari removed a glass bottle from his clothing and threw it on the ground. That bottle—which did not break—was recovered and contained a half-ounce of PCP.

Between November 30 and December 6, 2017, Gafari and Reid sold a cooperating source more than 43 ounces of PCP.  Gafari and Timmy Shields travelled to Cleveland, Ohio to purchase PCP that Gafari, Timmy Shields, and Terrell Shields intended to sell, including 32 ounces of PCP that was sold to the cooperating source on December 6, 2017.

On December 12, 2017, while executing a search warrant on Gafari’s residence in Maryland, federal agents recovered 207 ounces of PCP, drug paraphernalia, and a loaded firearm. Gafari admitted that he possessed the firearm to protect his PCP supply.  Gafari had a previous felony conviction and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Co-defendants Marquez Gary Freeman, a/k/a Cheese, age 22; Jordan Lee Phillips, a/k/a J Rock, age 27; Javon Antonio Reid, a/k/a Gucci, age 28; Terrell Andre Shields, a/k/a Hell Rell and Rell, age 31; and Timmy Rae Shields, a/k/a Tim Dawg, age 27, all of Suitland, Maryland, have previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the PCP distribution conspiracy.  Terrell Shields was sentenced to five years in federal prison, Phillips was sentenced to two years in federal prison, and Freeman was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison.  Judge Xinis has scheduled sentencing for Timmy Rae Shields on May 10, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. and Javon Reid is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory D. Bernstein, Jennifer R. Sykes, and Thomas M. Sullivan, who are prosecuting the case.

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